A Walmart home delivery driver has been jailed following an incident in Schuylkill County Monday in which he allegedly fired a shot from his gun during an argument with a man.
Police in West Penn Township say they were called to a home on Forsythia Lane shortly before 6 p.m. Monday for a report of a shot being fired. They learned that a Walmart delivery driver had allegedly shot at a resident nearby.
At the scene, police say they spoke with a man who said the delivery driver was speeding down the dirt lane and went to the residence below his. The man told police he yelled at the driver to slow down.
The driver, he said, slowed down and then got out of his vehicle and a verbal argument ensued. During the argument, the driver – later identified as David Lopez, 23, of Leola, Lancaster County – allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man and said he was going to shoot him.
Lopez then allegedly fired a shot into the ground, got back into his vehicle, and sped away.
Police say they found a shell casing near where the man was standing. It was silver in color and stamped FC Luger 9mm.
The investigation then led police to the home where Lopez had reportedly delivered the package. The resident there told police that they’d ordered something from the Walmart in Rush Township. Police say they were able to get the package number and learned that the delivery driver was named Dave.
With that information, police contacted Asset Protection at the Hometown Walmart store. They reportedly said the item was ordered from that store but fulfilled at the Walmart in Saint Clair.
Asset Protection at the Saint Clair Walmart were able to identify the driver as Lopez and said he was actually due back at the store to pick up another delivery order. They told police they would delay his order until authorities could arrive at the store.
West Penn Township Police notified Saint Clair Police of the situation and they assisted by standing by at the store in case Lopez showed up there in the meantime.
As West Penn police arrived, Saint Clair Police had detained Lopez. Lopez allegedly had a 9mm handgun concealed in his waistband inside his vehicle – a black Honda Pilot with a New York registration – at the time he was taken into custody.
Lopez was arraigned Monday night before Magisterial District Court Judge Anthony Kilker and charged with felony aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a concealed carry license. He’s also facing misdemeanor charges of making terroristic threats, committing a crime with a firearm, and reckless endangerment.
Kilker set bail at $100,000 and Lopez was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 16 before Judge AJ Serina in Orwigsburg.
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