Fry Held For Court in Edgewood Express Robbery

David Fry, 34, will stand trial in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on charges stemming from the March 26 robbery of Edgewood Express.

During a preliminary hearing on Sept. 13 in Wilkinsburg, District Judge Kim M. Hoots held Fry for court on charges of robbery with threat of immediate physical injury, harassment (communicating lewd, threatening, etc. language), disorderly conduct (engaging in fighting), simple assault, resisting arrest and terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another.

The Edgewood Express hold-up was the last in a string of three robberies that Fry is accused of committing after he allegedly killed a man in Erie on March 20.

Fry had been paroled to the Erie Community Corrections Center after serving more than 13 years in state prison on a robbery conviction in Westmoreland County. Fry, who lists his address as Wendel, Westmoreland County, had told the center's staff he was headed to the UPMC Hamot emergency room but he failed to return to the center March 16.

According to the Post-Gazette, police found Matthew Lyons dead in his apartment on Sassafras Street in Erie. Investigators were able to lift fingerprints from the crime scene that matched Fry's.

Fry is accused of taking Lyons' car and driving to Wilkins Township later that day, robbing the Sheetz store on Route 22 after passing a threatening note to a clerk. On March 21, police said, he attempted to rob the S&R Market in Hazelwood but was thwarted when a clerk reached for her gun.

Edgewood police received a call March 26 to respond to an armed robbery at , a convenience store at 253 Edgewood Ave. The man had fled the scene but Edgewood police established a perimeter with the assistance of , , Wilkinsburg, Braddock Hills and Rankin police.

A Swissvale officer observed a man matching the description of the robber running across Gordon Street to Lloyd Avenue, according to the criminal complaint. A K-9 officer and dog were deployed and the dog apprehended Fry by biting his left arm.

Police found a suspected crack cocaine pipe, cigarettes, lighters, snacks and a large number of lottery tickets near Fry, who also was found with $95.67 cash in his pants pocket, according to the criminal complaint filed by Edgewood police.

In connection with the Wilkins Sheetz robbery, Fry was held for court on June 25 on charges of robbery, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and retail theft. Charges against Fry in the Hazelwood convenience store hold-up—robbery and three counts of recklessly endangering another person—were also held for court on June 6.

In Erie, Fry waived his right to a preliminary hearing on April 26 on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and possessing an instrument of crime with intent in connection with Lyons' death.