Warminster Man Charged With Homicide In Nockamixon Park Shooting – Patch.com

DOYLESTOWN, PA The Bucks County District Attorney's Office has announced an arrest in the October shooting death of a Bucks County teenager.

Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, of Warminster, was arraigned in Bucks County Court Wednesday morning before Judge Gary Gambardella. He is charged with criminal homicide in the fatal shooting of Jason Kutt on Oct. 24, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or death by lethal injection.

Kutt, 18, of Sellersville, was watching the sunset with his girlfriend at Nockamixon State Park when he was shot once in the back of the head. Moments later, his girlfriend saw a man in an orange vest standing about 550 feet away look in their direction before leaving the area. Kutt was later pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem.

Hunting was allowed at the state park at the time of the shooting, the District Attorney's Office and state parks officials later confirmed. That man in the orange vest is now confirmed to be Heller, District Attorney Matt Weintraub said during a press conference Wednesday morning.

Heller's attorney, Daniel Schwartz, waived his defendant's right to a preliminary hearing.

Weintraub said Heller voluntarily turned himself in and has agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter when a formal arraignment takes place in April. He described the killing as "an awful mistake" and said Heller has expressed remorse for the crime.

Detectives interviewed Heller's co-workers who said he did not report to work the Monday after the shooting and was visibly "shook up" when he returned the following day, the DA's office said. The co-workers also told detectives that shortly after the shooting, Heller gave away guns, ammunition and hunting gear.

Heller has a prior criminal history, including two theft convictions in the 1980s, as well as a simple assault conviction and a drug-related charge in the early 1990s, Judge Gambardella said.

Kutt was a recent graduate of Pennridge High School who enjoyed playing guitar, video games and taking walks in nature, family members said.

Other misdemeanor charges brought against Heller include possession of instrument of a crime, possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon, shooting at or causing injury to human beings, failing to render assistance after a hunting accident and recklessly endangering another person.

After the arraignment, Heller was returned to the Bucks County Jail. No bail has been set.

"He bore no animus toward Jason Kutt," Weintraub said. "He didn't even know the man. He's going to have to live with this for the rest of his life, and I believe it will have a terrible impact on him."

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Warminster Man Charged With Homicide In Nockamixon Park Shooting - Patch.com