An arrest warrant has been issued for a third person in connection with a brutal beating at a Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge in Aliquippa.
City police said Ireland Brown, 21, of Ambridge was bartending at the time of the Jan. 5 attack, according to a post on the department’s social media page. Investigators said they used surveillance video to identify her as a third suspect.
She was given the opportunity to surrender at district court Friday, but police said she didn’t show up.
Brown is charged with liability for conduct of another, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, police said. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Aliquippa police at 724-378-8000.
Criminal cases against the other two suspects are pending. The charges stem from the near-fatal beating of Preston Coleman III, 52, inside the lodge on Aliquippa’s Penn Avenue.
Coleman’s family last month said he was beaten for nearly 30 minutes.
Court papers indicated that Brett Ours, 39, of Aliquippa and Ronald Brown, 44, of Ambridge attacked Coleman at the lodge, beating him with a bar stool, choking him and punching him in the face and head. Ronald Brown is Ireland Brown’s father.
Police said in court papers Coleman was punched nearly 250 times. The attack left Coleman with head injuries, brain swelling and bleeding, major fractures in his face and at least three broken ribs.
Relatives said they believe race may have triggered the attack. Ours and Ronald Brown are white. Coleman is Black.
Ours remains jailed on attempted homicide and related charges. A preliminary hearing is set for April 10.
Ronald Brown is awaiting trial on aggravated assault and simple assault charges. He is free on $100,000 bail.