Arnold man pleads guilty to New Kensington gas station robbery

An Arnold man could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbery. Chad William Fitzgerald, 34, admitted to robbing a gas station in New Kensington on August 14, 2024. During the robbery, Fitzgerald threatened employees with a knife and stole $37 in cash along with two packs of cigarettes. Police identified him after releasing surveillance photos to the public. They received an anonymous tip and arrested him later that day in New Kensington. Fitzgerald, who was described as homeless, expressed his regret in court, saying, "I had a bad year." His lawyer advised him to stay quiet during the proceedings. Fitzgerald has been in jail since his arrest and is held on a $50,000 bond. Judge Scott Mears of Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court plans to hold a sentencing hearing for Fitzgerald in about three months.