An alleged planned confrontation over Facebook comments escalated into a chaotic brawl involving stabbings, thrown pool balls, and death threats at a Girardville bar late last month.
The violence resulted in three people – including two of the alleged aggressors and a bartender – being transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-East in Pottsville for stab wounds.
State Police say they were dispatched to Guntown Bar and Billiards, on N. 2nd St. in Girardville, just before midnight on Nov. 22.
According to court documents, the altercation was sparked by a Facebook post made by patron Colby Kupusnick regarding the deceased brother of Hayley Hammer. Hammer, a Georgia resident, was in Schuylkill County for the funeral of her brother, Danyel Miller, who had been killed in a three-vehicle crash along Interstate 81 last month.
Investigators allege the attack was premeditated.
Hammer’s mother reportedly told police she was contacted by another Guntown bartender, who alerted her that Kupusnick was at the establishment on the 22nd. That bartender allegedly told the mother she would “try and keep Kupusnick there until Hayley could come confront him.”
Police say they reviewed surveillance footage from the night of the incident and it captures a group of people arriving at the bar. The video shows Hammer and another woman, identified as Mandi Beaman, walking toward the entrance.
Beaman is allegedly heard saying, “Drag him out,” to which Hammer responded, “I’m not dragging him out bro, I’m gonna (bleeping) do it right in here.”
The footage shows Hammer and Beaman entering the bar and making contact with Taylor, who pointed Kupusnick out to them. Hammer then walked behind Kupusnick, who was seated at the bar, and began striking him multiple times with a closed fist, police say.
As the fight progressed, Kupusnick pushed Hammer away and attempted to flee toward the pool table area. The affidavit states that both Hammer and Beaman threw pool balls at Kupusnick, which appeared to strike him. Another bartender, Shawn Griffiths, attempted to shield Kupusnick from the assault. Beaman allegedly pushed Griffiths and struck Kupusnick in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
Troopers noted that Hammer was heard yelling “I am going to kill you” three times during the assault. When Kupusnick attempted to walk away, the video shows Hammer striking him again. Kupusnick struck back, causing Hammer to fall. At that point, Anthony Welikonich intervened, pushing Kupusnick to the ground and striking him.
The violence escalated as other individuals joined in. Police observed an “unidentified Hispanic male wearing white” stomp on Kupusnick’s head while he was down. Another individual, identified in court documents as A. Miller, also became involved.
During the melee, Welikonich’s shirt lifted, exposing his back; police believe this is the moment he was stabbed. Hammer was also seen on video limping away, having suffered a stab wound to the leg. Griffiths, the bartender trying to separate the parties, told police he received a laceration to his left ribs from a knife during the scuffle.
In subsequent interviews at the hospital, the suspects’ stories evolved. Hammer initially claimed she only went to the bar to confront Kupusnick verbally and alleged he threw the first punch. However, in a follow-up interview, she admitted to striking Kupusnick in the face first. She told troopers that she, Beaman, Welikonich, and another man chased Kupusnick around the bar. She admitted she “knew she shouldn’t have went [sic] in there.”
Welikonich also admitted to investigators that the group had gathered at another bar prior to the incident specifically to confront Kupusnick. He confirmed that Hammer threw pool balls during the fight.
Kupusnick was interviewed at the Frackville barracks. He reportedly said he was sitting at the bar when an unknown male came up behind him and began striking him, knocking him out of his chair. He described being pinned down and struck by multiple people. He confirmed being hit with a pool ball in the corner of his mouth and stated he believed he was defending himself.
Kupusnick admitted to police that he had made the Facebook post in question but said he had already taken it down because people were offended. He provided the messages he received regarding the post to investigators.
Police have charged Hammer with two misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats and simple assault and two summary counts of harassment.
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