Attempted homicide charges against a man accused of shooting someone in the face in Butler were held over following a preliminary hearing Monday, June 24.

Samuel T. Lopez, 35, was charged June 3 with shooting of Jose Rodriguez-Hernandez, 32, at an East Pearl Street residence on Feb. 21.

Rodriguez-Hernandez survived after suffering four wounds from a single bullet that entered through his jaw, police said. He testified with the help of an interpreter Monday before District Judge William Fullerton and said there was no animosity between him and Lopez, who were housemates, before the shooting.

Lopez was charged with felonies criminal attempted homicide and aggravated assault and misdemeanors tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment. A warrant for Lopez’s arrest was issued, and he was taken into custody in New York.

Rodriguez-Hernandez said he was living with Lopez for two months in Butler, and the two had previously worked together installing fences.

On Feb. 21, Rodriguez-Hernandez got out of work early and was in his room when Lopez arrived home around 3 or 4 p.m.

“I was eating in my room, and I heard the noise of a firearm,” he said.

Rodriguez-Hernandez said Lopez opened the bedroom door and pointed a “cream colored” firearm at him, shooting him once near the right side of his mouth.

The bullet exited the left side of Rodriguez-Hernandez’s neck, reentered his left shoulder and exited his left arm.

“He shot me once, and then he shot the wall,” he said.

According to Rodriguez-Hernandez, Lopez instructed him to go into the bathroom. When Rodriguez-Hernandez saw himself in the mirror, he said there was blood coming from his mouth and neck.

Rodriguez-Hernandez was taken by a friend to Butler Memorial Hospital and later transported to a Pittsburgh hospital.

He testified he and Lopez had not had any arguments before the shooting.

Officer Marc Howard, of Butler city police, said Rodriguez-Hernandez told him Lopez had tried mopping up the blood after the shooting.

Upon obtaining a search warrant, he found a bloodstained mop and sheets in a closet, a stained bathroom rug stuffed in a drawer, and a garbage can outside containing a bloodstained comforter, pillow and sheets.

Howard said a bullet and a slug also were found on the sidewalk outside of the residence.

Howard said he viewed body camera footage another officer took from the day of the shooting, and it showed Lopez stopping on the sidewalk with a garbage can and going through his pockets. As he did, a live round fell out of his pocket and onto the sidewalk.

The firearm in question, a cream-colored Glock 9mm, was found in a backpack outside the residence, Howard said.

During final arguments, public defender Kolten Hilterman said there was no firsthand evidence about Lopez trying to tamper with evidence.

He said the commonwealth failed to demonstrate whether Lopez intended to kill Rodriguez-Hernandez.

Assistant district attorney J.P. Kulzer said intent can be established if a deadly weapon is used and based on the location of a gunshot wound.

Fullerton held all charges over for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

Lopez remains in Butler County Prison without bail.