Man killed in Arnold alley identified as East Franklin resident; police investigating

A heavy-equipment operator and father of three from Armstrong County died after being shot in an Arnold alley Friday night, according to investigators.

Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin died of a single gunshot wound at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. The shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Kenva Alley, which is between North and McCandless streets, said John W. Clark, a detective with the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office.

Arnold and New Kensington police found Wynkoop “shot in and around a vehicle,” according to a news release from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. He died about 45 minutes later, officials said.

The district attorney’s office is assisting Arnold police with their investigation, Clark said. Arnold police could not immediately be reached for comment.

Scant details are available about what happened and who was involved. Clark declined to disclose a motive or possible suspects. He said investigators are following leads.

The incident is one of six shootings in New Kensington and Arnold in the past six weeks.

Wynkoop’s obituary, published in the Trib’s Valley News Dispatch edition, said he worked as a coal miner at Rosebud Mining for a number of years. Recently, he was a heavy equipment operator for Holbein Inc.

Bob Holbein said he and the rest of his company were sad to hear about Wynkoop’s death.

“We liked him. He worked hard. He was a talented operator,” Holbein said. “We never expected something like this to happen to him.”

Wynkoop leaves behind his wife, Amanda, and three children, Addison, Phoenix and Maximus. His family couldn’t be reached for comment.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Arnold Police Department at 724-339-9663.