HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre County DA withdrew felony aggravated assault charge after reviewing video evidence
- McKenna still faces misdemeanor simple assault charge, preliminary hearing set for Feb. 11
- Victim’s injuries less severe than reported – two jaw fractures on one side, no missing tooth
Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna caught a break Friday.
Centre County DA Bernie Cantorna withdrew the felony aggravated assault charge against the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after reviewing video evidence from the Jan. 31 incident at Doggie’s Pub in State College, according to a statement from the DA’s office.
McKenna still faces a misdemeanor simple assault charge. Summary offenses for harassment and disorderly conduct remain on the docket too. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.
The altercation happened after Penn State’s outdoor game against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. A crowd of 74,575 watched the Nittany Lions fall 5-4 in overtime. According to the complaint, McKenna punched a victim twice on the right side of his face following “an exchange of words.”
The Centre Daily Times reported the victim was heckling McKenna and his mother after the game.
Cantorna explained why the felony charge didn’t hold up.
“Both the District Attorney’s Office and the State College Police Department have reviewed video evidence of this incident and do not believe that a charge of Aggravated Assault is supported by the evidence,” he said in the statement. “A review of the video does not support a conclusion that Gavin McKenna acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or with reckless indifference to the value of human life.”
The victim’s injuries turned out to be less severe than initially reported.
Police originally claimed fractures on both sides of the jaw and a missing tooth. The investigation confirmed two fractures on one side of the jaw. No missing tooth. The victim had surgery and is recovering.
McKenna remains Penn State’s top offensive threat this season with 32 points in 24 games. The 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon recorded a goal and two assists in Saturday’s outdoor game before the incident occurred.
Whether McKenna suits up when Penn State returns to action Feb. 13 against Michigan is unclear. The university isn’t commenting on the ongoing legal matter.
The misdemeanor simple assault charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted. That’s a far cry from the 20 years McKenna was potentially facing with the felony charge.
