HEMPFIELD HATCHET ATTACK SUSPECT IN JAIL

A suspect in a hatchet attack in Hempfield over the weekend is currently in Westmoreland County Jail.  The Trib reports that 32-year-old Kyle Bair of Jeanette was charged in in connection with the attack early Sunday morning.  The victim was flown to a Pittsburgh area hospital for treatment, while Bair was found outside Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital with a large amount of blood on his clothing and arms.  Bair told authorities he and the victim got into an argument after leaving a friend’s party around 10:30 the night before.  The argument continued as they got into separate cars on Brinkerton Road in Hempfield with the wounded man ramming Bair’s car and Bair retrieving the hatchet from his back seat and swinging it, cutting the man in the torso.  Bair is charged with aggravated and simple assault and other crimes, and bail was denied.  He awaits a preliminary hearing on July 19th.