An initial court date hasn’t been set for a 63-year-old city man accused in the assault of a New Cumberland man Thursday night outside a local social organization.

Louis P. Gallo, 63, was charged Friday with malicious assault, elevated from a malicious wounding to a felony due to the intent to cause bodily injury with malice aforethought.

All the evidence law enforcement used was surveillance video of the episode at the Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars, explained city police chief Chuck Stanley in his Monday press release.

Chester patrolman Kyle Swan and Hancock County sheriff’s deputy Jacob Morgan were dispatched to investigate a fight on the sidewalk in front of VFW at 10:35 p.m. July 31.

They discovered Brian D. Sweeney, 59, lying on the sidewalk, suffering from multiple face and head lacerations, so they requested an ambulance.

As Swan and Morgan began gathering information, they learned that Sweeney had been inside the VFW, where he and Gallo had a dispute. The men walked outside, appeared to exchange more words and Gallo punched Sweeney in the face.

In the footage, Stanley said Gallo appeared to knock Sweeney unconscious as he fell backwards and wasn’t moving. Gallo then continued “pummeling” Sweeney in the face more than 20 times, and walked inside where he allegedly told an employee “Your buddy is outside bleeding on the sidewalk.

Gallo then re-exited the establishment, approached the still unmoving Sweeney and kicked him in the head as he laid on the sidewalk before leaving the area.

Sweeney then was transported by ambulance to East Liverpool City Hospital, where he was airlifted to a Pittsburgh trauma center due to the severity of his head injuries.

Authorities charged Gallo with malicious assault, which is an unspecified felony, due to his conduct against the victim after being rendered unconscious after the initial punch.

Gallo was served with the warrant on Friday, posting a $7,500 property/surety bond through A Swan Bail Bonding LLC.

If convicted, Gallo faces up to 10 years in prison and a substantial fine.

Gallo currently is out on bond.

sujhelyi@mojonews.com