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Bar fight, car chase lead to deadly shooting
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A 27-year-old man was killed early Monday morning in Johnstown when police fired at his car as it sped toward officers surrounding a stopped vehicle.
State police spokesman Trooper John Matchik said Elip Cheatham of Johnstown died from gunshot wounds believed to have been caused by three Johnstown officers' shots.
Trooper Matchik said Johnstown police pursued a fleeing car just after midnight after hearing shots outside Edder's Den, a bar in the Oakhurst section of the city.
Police finally stopped the vehicle and had surrounded it near a Johnstown middle school when a second car approached quickly, accelerating from the direction of Edder's Den.
Trooper Matchik said the officers ordered the car to stop. When it didn't, they fired until it came to rest next to the officers.
"The approaching vehicle continued to accelerate, gaining speed and momentum as it approached the officers," Trooper Matchik said. "Multiple shots were fired at the vehicle."
Mr. Cheatham was pronounced dead at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center at 1:55 a.m. One passenger was treated then released. A second passenger's condition is unknown.
Officers at the scene were not injured.
Trooper Matchik said the officers who fired at the car have been placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting takes place, in accordance with state police policy.
Troopers from three surrounding barracks as well as the crash reconstruction and major case teams are helping with the investigation.
It remains unclear whether the people in the first and second cars knew each other.
State police charged a passenger in the first car in connection with a shooting outside the bar and then fleeing. Shy-Tyquon Lawton, 27, of Johnstown was apprehended after a short foot pursuit and charged with aggravated assault and other offenses in the shooting of Cardell Clinton, 20, also of Johnstown, police said. Mr. Clinton was shot in the hip; his condition was not released Monday night.
Mr. Lawton was being held in the Cambria County Prison on $75,000 bond.
First Published June 26, 2012 12:23 am
