A Russell man charged in connection with a May shooting that left another man dead will face a charge of first degree murder.

Mark E. Saullo, 62, pleaded not guilty to the charge during arraignment proceedings on Thursday morning at the Warren County Courthouse.

The underlying incident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. on May 27 at 2 S. Main St.

The victim was identified as 55-year-old Keith R. Haskins, also of Russell.

Saullo was initially charged with criminal homicide. That’s a more general charge and it’s up to the prosecutor to then determine what degree of murder (first, second or third) or manslaughter (voluntary or involuntary) the accused will face.

The decision in this case – first degree murder – was made by First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown, who is prosecuting the case.

“A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing,” the Pennsylvania criminal code states.

President Judge Maureen Skerda, who took the plea Thursday, said that the charge comes with a “mandatory life sentence.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a witness told police that he was outside the S. Main St. building and heard a gunshot, running into the shop to allegedly find “Saullo holding a pistol and Haskins holding his stomach.”

The witness told troopers that Saullo cleared the pistol of ammunition and placed the pistol on a desk at the scene. The witness then called 911.

A Conewango Township police officer took Saullo into custody at 2 S. Main St. He was interviewed by state police at the Starbrick barracks at about 2 a.m. The affidavit alleges that Saullo told police that he had a physical and verbal altercation with Haskins on Saturday where “both had gone their separate ways and everything was fine afterwards.”

Saullo allegedly told police that he wrote a letter that said Haskins was no longer allowed on his property. It appears that letter never made it to Haskins as Saullo then told police that he was called and told that Haskins was “on his way to the shop and he was made.”

Saullo claimed that Haskins came into the shop and demanded title to a vehicle and a verbal altercation ensued.

“Saullo related that he followed Haskins into the office where they continued to argue,” the affidavit states.

Once in the office, the affidavit states that the men “continued to argue and began pushing one another.”

Saullo allegedly told police that Haskins pushed him on the neck and that Saullo allegedly told Haskins that he was going to shoot him, walking over to his desk and retrieving a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

“Saullo advised that Haskins allegedly struck him with the back of his hand and that is when Saullo shot Haskins one time,” the affidavit states. “Saullo related he then unloaded the gun, took the magazine out and separated the items.”

Troopers say that Saullo told them he did not render aid to Haskins.

“Haskins subsequently died from the gun shot fired by Saullo,” the affidavit alleges.