Port Matilda man charged with attempted murder

A Port Matilda man is in jail, charged with attempted murder, after state police at Philipsburg found another Port Matilda man was found lying on a porch, stabbed multiple times in the chest, arms, back and abdomen.

As a result of the staff wounds, Ryan Morgan, 30, suffered damage to his heart region and a collapsed lung. He was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center and later transferred to Altoona Regional Trauma Center, police reported.

The incident began about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday when police received information from Centre County 911 Center that an assault had been reported taking place near the Port Matilda Elementary School. Subsequent calls to 911 reported that a man had been shot or stabbed and was lying on a porch on Prospect Street. Police arrived upon the scene to find Morgan.

An investigation identified Richard W. Barger, 20, as a suspect. Police said Barger was soliciting others for help in assaulting Morgan.

Barger is also charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering and related offenses. He was arraigned at the Central Booking station at the Centre County jail and remanded to the jail.