SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – A party at The Grove at Slippery Rock turned violent in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, resulting in an assault that left one person injured. The incident involved a 23-year-old resident of The Grove Apartments, Brennan Steeley, and a 22-year-old named Oliver Valera, who was invited to the party by two girls he had met at a restaurant earlier that evening. The night took a dangerous turn when Steeley became aggressive, eventually attacking Valera with a small fixed-blade knife.
According to Valera, Steeley accused him of attempting to harm the other party attendees, leading to the confrontation that left Valera with a neck injury requiring jugular surgery. Despite his wound, Valera found himself struggling to seek help from other residents after fleeing Steeley’s apartment, as they refused to let him in due to his appearance.
The assault was reported to the Pennsylvania State Police, who, along with the SRU Campus Police and Slippery Rock EMS, responded to the call at The Grove apartment complex. As a result, Steeley was taken into custody, with charges including aggravated assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment. He is currently remanded to Butler County Prison.
The incident prompted a statement from David Wilmes, the Chief Student Affairs Officer for Slippery Rock University, assuring the community that the individuals involved in the assault were not enrolled at SRU and that there was no present danger to SRU students. Additionally, Kevin Sealey, Director of Operations for the Cardigan Group, which owns The Grove property, confirmed awareness of the incident and emphasized the priority of resident and staff safety.
This recent violent incident of assault at The Grove is not an isolated one, as the property has seen other notable police calls in the past, including reported shootings and a student falling from a balcony. These incidents raise concerns about the safety and security of residents at The Grove and highlight the need for thorough investigations and measures to prevent further occurrences.