Johnstown man dies after late-night shooting

A Johnstown man died early Sunday after being shot in the Coopersdale Homes neighborhood, investigators said.

Armel Joe, 26, was shot once in the abdomen just after 1 a.m. He was taken by ambulance to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, where the West End man died in the emergency room 30 minutes later, said Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees, who has ruled the incident a homicide.

The shooting apparently occurred during a late-night barbecue in the public housing neighborhood — and Johnstown Police said at least 74 people were at the scene at the time shots rang out.

“We need those people to come forward,” Johnstown Police detective Mark Britton said. “There is someone who knows what happened, someone who saw what happened — if not 75 people who saw what happened.”

Britton described the shooting as a “senseless and cowardice act” — and the person responsible for pulling the trigger deserves to be brought to justice.

“But there’s only so much a police department can do … without help,” Britton said.

He urged anyone who might have a tip that could help police put together the night’s events to “do the right thing” — and contact police. Anyone who wishes to speak to police directly can call the city detectives bureau at 533-2080, Britton said.

“The last thing we want is to have another homicide and another family upset by this,” he said.

Investigators believe the incident was “isolated” and that the public is not at risk.