Attempted Homicide in Wayne County

A Wayne County, Pennsylvania man is charged with attempted homicide in a shooting incident that happened about an hour south of Binghamton in Browndale. 

State Police say a woman called 911 shortly at 1:40 a.m. December 4 to report someone had broken into her home and shot her male companion with a rifle. 

Troopers tracked down 29-year-old Jesse Skates of Waymart in a vehicle and arrested him following a brief pursuit.

Investigators say it appears Skates broke a window to get into the home.  The woman was awakened by the noise and said she saw Skates in the house with a .22-caliber rifle. 

She ran into a bedroom and woke her companion.  Skates and the man had a brief verbal exchange in the bedroom before the man was shot in the face.  The pair still struggled and the rifle was broken in the process.  Troopers say Skates then allegedly slashed the male victim in the face with a pocket knife.

The man who had been shot was in intensive care but is expected to survive.

In addition to attempted homicide, Skates is charged with aggravated assault, burglary and other related charges.