Leechburg shooting leaves 1 man dead

Investigators are trying to find out why a 37-year-old man was found dead inside someone else’s house in Leechburg early Monday.

The dead man, who police have not yet identified, was from the Leechburg area, according to investigators. He was found with a gunshot wound inside a residence at the corner of Pitt Street and Logan Avenue, authorities said. Gunshots were heard just before 3 a.m.

The cause of his death was listed Monday as undetermined pending tests.

Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton, Coroner Brian K. Myers and state police Lt. Daniel W. Ekis said they don’t believe anyone other than the victim was involved in the death, but they are investigating.

“We don’t have any indications anyone else was involved,” Ekis said.

“We don’t believe at this time that there will be charges,” Charlton said, adding an investigation was ongoing.

Myers said an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

“At that time, we may have some more details to tell you if this was a homicide or a suicide,” Myers said.

Ekis said investigators couldn’t say why the man was in the house or why numerous gunshots were heard before the victim was shot Monday morning.

At the time, two people were inside the house and another family member was inside a two-car garage working with other people on a motorcycle or dirt bike, Ekis said.

Charlton said the two people in the house were “not in the vicinity of the shooting or involved.”

Someone inside the garage called 911 at 2:55 a.m. to report hearing multiple gunshots, Ekis said.

When Leechburg police went into the house, they found the man lying on the floor.

Numerous empty shell casings and evidence markers were visible Monday morning on the rear patio outside the house, where the back door and walls had what appeared to be bullet holes. Someone had fired shots into the house, police said.

Troopers said they found a semiautomatic handgun on the patio and at least one more gun in the house.

Earlier, at least a dozen troopers, including members of a crime scene reconstruction team, were called to the scene.

Borough officials closed municipal offices Monday to provide more parking and interview space for investigators.

Police canvassed the neighborhood to try to determine what led to the shooting.

Some neighbors said they heard four gunshots, a break of several minutes, and then two more shots.

State police asked anyone with information to call 724-543-2011.