By JOSH COTTON

jcotton@timesobserver.com

A Russell man facing a criminal homicide has been held for court in the wake of a preliminary hearing.

The case against Mark E. Saullo, 62, 322 Gouldtown Road, was bound over to the Court of Common Pleas in the wake of a Thursday preliminary hearing.

He faces a single count of criminal homicide in connection with the killing of Keith R. Haskins, 55, Russell.

At this stage of the criminal process, he continues to be charged with that single count.

“The Commonwealth does not need to specify the degree of homicide until trial, however, we will usually get more specific at formal arraignment in the criminal information,” District Attorney Rob Greene told the Times Observer.

A statement from the Pennsylvania State Police indicates that troopers were dispatched shortly before 9:30 p.m. on May 27 to 2 S. Main St. for a report of a shooting.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a witness told police that he was outside the building and heard a gunshot, running into the shop to allegedly find “Saullo holding a pistol and Haskins holding his stomach.”

The witness told troopers that Saullo cleared the pistol of ammunition and placed the pistol on a desk at the scene. The witness then called 911.

A Conewango Township police officer took Saullo into custody at 2 S. Main St. He was interviewed by state police at the Starbrick barracks at about 2 a.m. The affidavit alleges that Saullo told police that he had a physical and verbal altercation with Haskins on Saturday where “both had gone their separate ways and everything was fine afterwards.”

Saullo allegedly told police that he wrote a letter that said Haskins was no longer allowed on his property. It appears that letter never made it to Haskins as Saullo then told police that he was called and told that Haskins was “on his way to the shop and he was made.”

Saullo claimed that Haskins came into the shop and demanded title to a vehicle and a verbal altercation ensued.

“Saullo related that he followed Haskins into the office where they continued to argue,” the affidavit states.

Once in the office, the affidavit states that the men “continued to argue and began pushing one another.”

Saullo allegedly told police that Haskins pushed him on the neck and that Saullo allegedly told Haskins that he was going to shoot him, walking over to his desk and retrieving a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

“Saullo advised that Haskins allegedly struck him with the back of his hand and that is when Saullo shot Haskins one time,” the affidavit states. “Saullo related he then unloaded the gun, took the magazine out and separated the items.”

Troopers say that Saullo told them he did not render aid to Haskins.

“Haskins subsequently died from the gun shot fired by Saullo,” the affidavit alleges.

Saullo remains behind bars as bail is not an option on this charge. His next court appearance – formal arraignment – is currently scheduled for July 11, online court records show.