A Pike County man was charged Tuesday in the “senseless” shooting Saturday night of a teenager remembered by family members as a “sweet soul” with a bright future ahead of him.
Andrew Joseph Quattrochi, 25, of Bushkill was arraigned Tuesday on charges alleging he fatally shot Garrett Gearhart, 17, at the Wawa on West Main Street in Stroudsburg.
Quattrochi is charged with homicide, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and aggravated assault, which are felonies, as well as misdemeanors of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Stroud Area Regional police said there was an argument at the Wawa that turned physical, which led to the shooting. Quattrochi displayed a handgun and fired a single shot before fleeing, according to a department news release.
Quattrochi fled in a white pickup truck with other people involved in the altercation, police said. Investigators determined the truck belonged to Quattrochi’s father. Quattrochi was identified through video surveillance, the release states.
Police have said the shooting was an isolated incident.
Gearhart was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, where he died from his injuries about 9 p.m. Saturday. An autopsy confirmed his manner of death was homicide, caused by a single gunshot to the back. Quattrochi turned himself in Tuesday morning.
Gearhart remembered
A cousin of Gearhart on Sunday to raise money for his mother and family. As of Tuesday evening, more than $16,000 of the $25,000 goal had been reached.
Gearhart, a senior at Stroudsburg High School, was a fan of mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding and playing basketball, He was also talented at working with his hands, and was half a year away from getting his welding certificate, his obituary states. Gearhart was also a fan of rap music and anime, and would spend his summers helping out at the winery belonging to his stepfather,
Sorrenti’s family owns Sorrenti’s Cherry Valley Vineyards in Saylorsburg. The winery shared the GoFundMe Tuesday
“His future was taken from him,” the post reads in part. “This tragedy hurts my heart, so much wishing he could’ve achieved the goals he wanted to.”
Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Cosmas Curry said in a statement that the shooting was a “senseless act of violence,” and added that the district’s thoughts and condolences go to Gearhart’s family and friends. Grief counseling is available for students and staff.
Curry wrote that he had no additional details to share, but would keep families updated as appropriate information becomes available.
Those who wish to donate to the GoFundMe may do so at gofund.me/ab3d2469.
A visitation will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church at 915 N. Fifth St., Stroudsburg. A funeral service will be held there at 1 p.m., according to his obituary.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact police at the department’s CrimeWatch website, .
