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Monday, February 09, 2004
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Monroeville bicyclist has been jailed on charges that he tried to kill a pickup truck driver during a road rage incident Saturday afternoon near the entrance to Monroeville Park.
The driver, William J. Nicoletti, was shot once in the arm in the confrontation.
No injuries were reported to the bike rider, Robert T. Urick.
Nicoletti, 51, told Monroeville police that he was driving along Tillbrook Road when Urick, 41, who was riding the bicycle, made an obscene gesture as the truck passed him.
Urick later told police that he reacted that way because Nicoletti had told him to get off the road.
Nicoletti said that he turned his truck around and drove toward Urick, who pulled a pistol, pointed it at him and stated that Nicoletti had "five seconds to get out [of the truck] or he would shoot," according to an affidavit that supports Urick's arrest.
Nicoletti said that Urick then reached inside the truck and shot him in the arm.
As Urick rode away, Nicoletti said that he pursued him in the truck, ramming the bicycle from behind, forcing it off the road.
The two men then fought briefly until Urick fled.
Nicoletti was treated at Mercy Hospital for a bullet wound of the arm.
Under questioning at county police headquarters, Urick denied having possessed or fired a weapon. He admitted that he had fought with Nicoletti, ending the fight only after Nicoletti submitted, the affidavit said.
Urick was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and two weapons violations.
He was being held last night in the Allegheny County Jail on $100,000 bond, pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. before District Justice Walter Luniewski in Monroeville.