A West Mahanoy Township man already serving a state prison sentence for an assault was charged with homicide Thursday by township police stemming from a separate incident last year.

Police Chief Shawn Tray charged Thomas J. Petrousky, 54, of 256 S. Wylam St., with killing David Halaburda, 50, about 8 a.m. April 28.Petrousky was arraigned by videoconference on charges of criminal homicide, first-degree murder, third-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, simple assault with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.During the arraignment, Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale informed Petrousky that if he is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces a sentence of death or life in prison, and the third-degree murder charge carries a sentence of up to 40 years in prison.No bail was set and Petrousky remains in SCI/Mahanoy where he is serving a 1- to 3-year sentence on charges stemming from an assault on James Dellock. Petrousky pleaded guilty to the charges from that incident that occurred outside his home shortly after the killing of Halaburda.In his affidavit of probable cause, Tray said the killing was found when Patrolman Raymond Tonkinson was called to the area of 249 S. Wylam St. for a report of an assault.The first officer at the scene, Frackville police Patrolman Christopher Hand, found Petrousky on the street apparently under the influence of a controlled substance. Hand eventually managed to get him on the ground.Tonkinson arrived and, after Petrousky was placed in handcuffs, it was learned he threatened to kill Dellock and his dogs, then hit him in the face and lower back before ripping his mailbox off.After securing Petrousky, Hand and Butler Township police Patrolman Shawn Butler placed the Petrousky's dog back inside the home and, in doing so, saw a man lying on the floor in a front room, face down, Tray said. The man, later identified as Halaburda, was covered with household items and Tray said blood could be seen throughout the area.About 8:45 a.m., Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak pronounced Halaburda dead at the scene.Tray said search warrants were obtained that led to items being seized from both inside the house and on Petrousky.An autopsy conducted April 29 at Lehigh Valley Medical Center, Bethlehem, determined that Halaburda died from blunt-force trauma to the head and neck and the death was ruled a homicide.On May 2, Tray said blood samples from both Petrousky and Halaburda were taken to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and on May 12, a sweatshirt and sneaker worn by Petrousky were also taken to the laboratory.DNA taken from a blood splatter on the shirt Petrousky was wearing matched DNA taken from the blood sample of Halaburda, Tray said.He said it was determined the blood on the shirt was the result of a blood drop dispersed through the air "due to an external force applied to a source of liquid blood."Hale scheduled a tentative preliminary hearing for Petrousky on the charges for 10 a.m. Jan. 30 in her Frackville courtroom.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC