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Rivers Casino security cameras tracked defendant, robbery victims, prosecution says
UPDATED 10:32 PM EDT May 04, 2015
By Bob Mayo
Rivers Casino security camera video is playing a prominent part in the Allegheny County trial of a man charged with tracking and robbing casino customers.
Jurors are being shown casino video evidence which recorded the movements on casino property of defendant Dustin Andrejco-Jones and the victims.
Investigators worked backward from video of the victims leaving the casino to identify the defendant and to document what led up to the crimes.
"I think their video system is very good. They can see what's going on there. I mean every little move you make, it seems like," victim Thomas Gnipp told Pittsburgh's Action News 4.
"I think their video system is very good. They can see what's going on there. I mean every little move you make, it seems like," victim Thomas Gnipp told Pittsburgh's Action News 4.
Assistant District Attorney John Pittman told the jury in Judge Jill Rangos' courtroom that the video was recorded in Rivers Casino and its garage on the night of Jan. 8, 2014, and the following early-morning hours.
Andrejco-Jones, of Braddock, was allegedly tracking casino customers, including following two of them home to rob them before returning in each case to the casino.
Casino cameras automatically recorded him and the victims as part of an extensive security system, creating a trail of evidence being used in the trial.
"On that floor when I was leaving, (he) saw me with the cane, and figured I'm an easy target," said Gnipp, who testified Andrejco-Jones tailed him home from the casino to Ross Township, rushing up on him as he was getting out of his car in his garage.
"He says to me, 'Give me all your money. I have a gun,'" Gnipp said. "I was scared to death. I have a bad heart. I didn't know what to do. I laid on the horn."
Gnipp said the the defendant ran off with less than $40.
Earlier, Ronald Eritano testified Andrejco-Jones attacked him in the casino garage that same evening, as he and his wife were about to leave.
"He pushed me and said, 'Give me your money,' and then pushed me again. He said 'I have a gun, I'll shoot you,'" Eritano said. "He hit me real hard, right in the sternum, and knocked me back against the car door. At that point, my wife screamed and he took off. I was just stunned. Never happened to me before in my lifetime."
"I knew something was wrong. I got out of the car and started screaming," said Carol Eritano, wife of the victim, who also testified.
"On that floor when I was leaving, (he) saw me with the cane, and figured I'm an easy target," said Gnipp, who testified Andrejco-Jones tailed him home from the casino to Ross Township, rushing up on him as he was getting out of his car in his garage.
"He says to me, 'Give me all your money. I have a gun,'" Gnipp said. "I was scared to death. I have a bad heart. I didn't know what to do. I laid on the horn."
Gnipp said the the defendant ran off with less than $40.
Earlier, Ronald Eritano testified Andrejco-Jones attacked him in the casino garage that same evening, as he and his wife were about to leave.
"He pushed me and said, 'Give me your money,' and then pushed me again. He said 'I have a gun, I'll shoot you,'" Eritano said. "He hit me real hard, right in the sternum, and knocked me back against the car door. At that point, my wife screamed and he took off. I was just stunned. Never happened to me before in my lifetime."
"I knew something was wrong. I got out of the car and started screaming," said Carol Eritano, wife of the victim, who also testified.
The prosecution maintains that a third casino customer was followed home and robbed of a couple of thousand dollars. It says it will present video of Andrejco-Jones returning to the casino and gambling away that man's money.
That third victim is expected to testify when the trial resumes Tuesday.
That third victim is expected to testify when the trial resumes Tuesday.
http://www.wtae.com/news/Rivers-Casino-security-cameras-tracked-defendant-robbery-victims-prosecution-says/32803406
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