Victim identified in fatal Avalon shooting, Hopewell man charged with homicide
Allegheny County police have arrested a Hopewell man in the shooting death of a man early Saturday in Avalon.
Samuel Lee Tolfa, 32, is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, carrying a firearm without a license and fleeing police.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Jorden Lee Puskar, 21, of Coraopolis.
County 911 dispatchers were notified of the shooting at about 12:45 a.m. in the 100 block of Prospect Street.
According to police, first responders found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in an apartment there. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tolfa fled from responding officers and was taken into custody after a brief pursuit, police said.
Allegheny County police charge Tolfa with felony counts of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, carrying a firearm without a license and fleeing from police.
He is being detained in the Allegheny County Jail after bail was denied at his arraignment on Saturday, according to court records.
Tolfa faces a preliminary hearing on the charges on Feb. 2.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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