Police: Man Waits, Opens Fire On Ex, Kills Self In LeechburgWoman's Boyfriend Shot In Head, Hospitalized In PittsburghPOSTED: 9:19 am EDT September 19,
2009 LEECHBURG, Pa. -- A gunman waited for his victims to return home to open fire and ultimately take his own life, police said.Police said a Plum man -- identified by the coroner as Jason Daugherty, 30 -- waited for his ex-girlfriend to return with her current boyfriend to her home in the 400 block of First Street in Leechburg, Armstrong County, shortly after midnight.When they arrived, Daugherty opened fire from the back yard with a 12-gauge shotgun, killing the woman -- identified by the coroner as Vanessa Nickzad, 25 -- and injuring her boyfriend, who ran for help."It was a 'boom, boom' big knock. I thought it was somebody drunk coming to my door because that's the kind of knock it was," said John Wolmer, who called 911.Wolmer, who lives a block away, said Walker wanted to hide out in his home."(The) guy tells you he's being chased by somebody with a gun, needs help. You're a full-grown man and you don't want to step outside. I kind of told him to get down by the car. ‘I can't let you in, I have a family here,’" Wolmer said.Nickzad's boyfriend, identified as Samuel Walker, 29, was taken to Allegheny General Hospital with a pellet wound to the head. He was last listed in stable condition and was expected to survive his injuries.Police said Daugherty shot and killed himself. When officers arrived at the scene, he was dead.Yellow tape surrounded the victim's home not even 24 hours after the shooting. This house remained a crime scene as neighbors stopped by stunned by what happened in their neighborhood. WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Tara Edwards said a sunflower was left on the hood of Nickzad's car"It's a small town, nice town. It's tragic to see something like this. (I'm) just in shock," said Carol Yakovich, a neighbor.Though police believe they know what happened, officers continued to investigate.
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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