A Harrisville man accused of shooting at a Pakistani store owner on Thanksgiving day is not an "ethnic retaliator," his attorney says.

John Brian Collar, 39, of 315 Rocky Springs Road, is accused of firing a rifle through a window at Sajjad Ahmed Raja, 36, of Grove City, at about 1 a.m. Nov. 22 at the convenience store in Barkeyville that Raja owns.

Collar was charged by state police in Franklin with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief.

Initially, Collar's bond was set at $250,000, but in a Feb. 19 hearing it was lowered to $100,000, according to his attorney, Jack Cline of Mercer.

Testimony from a psychiatrist, Collar's minister and family and friends apparently convinced the court that Collar is not a threat to the community, has been a good family man and that he was not an "ethnic retaliator," Cline said.

"The court saw this and was willing to reduce the bail and see how he adjusts," Cline said. "There's a lot of people who shoot at someone who aren't in for $250,000 bond."

Police believe Collar targeted Raja because of his ethnic descent. According to the probable cause affidavit, Collar told police he "was watching those guys for a couple months," and used an ethnic slur.

Raja is an American citizen.

But Cline says there is some dispute over what Collar said and what he meant.

"There is no history of this in his background," Cline said, adding that Collar had been friends with the prior owner of the convenience store, who was also of Pakistani descent, and had invited him into his home.

"It certainly wasn't an attempt to kill anyone," Cline said. "He shot the 22-rifle at a double-paned window, then drove away. There was no followup attack. He shot the weaker weapon. He also had a (higher caliber) rifle with a scope in his car."

The shot narrowly missed Raja, who received stitches at United Community Hospital in Pine Township for cuts he suffered in and around his left eye and cheek from shards of glass.

Cline said that though the police affidavit said Collar did beep the horn to get Raja's attention, that is also disputed.

A preliminary hearing, scheduled for Monday, was reset for May 30 to give Collar the opportunity to pay his lowered bond, get out of jail, support his family and help with the investigation, according to Cline.

During a hearing in February, Cline filed four motions, including notice that he plans to use the insanity defense.

"We have to file that within 30 days of his arraignment in case there was a possibility that we would raise that defense," Cline said. "That's what we're still investigating -- why did he do it."

If convicted on the attempted murder charge, Collar could face up to 40 years in prison.

Collar remained in Venango County Jail this morning.