A man and woman were fatally shot at a Penn Township home Monday, and a Toyota Tacoma taken from the scene was found abandoned in Manor hours later, according to investigators.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck identified the victims as Jacob R. Erdeljac, 41, and Mara Casale, 27. They were found near the home by a friend visiting at 8 a.m.

“It’s apparent from the evidence that’s been gathered all day that they sustained gunshot wounds that apparently killed them,” Peck said.

Duquesne Light Co. confirmed Tuesday morning that Erdeljac was employed as a transmission and distribution supervisor.

“Our thoughts are with all those who are affected by this terrible tragedy,” said Ashley Macik, a spokeswoman for the electric utility.

Police are investigating the deaths as homicides, according to Penn Township police Chief John Otto. The pickup truck belonged to one of the victims.

Authorities from numerous area agencies, including North Huntingdon police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the home near Bratkovich Road at 8 a.m. Helicopter footage showed markers for shell casings in the driveway.

By the afternoon, Penn Township police announced they were searching for a 2005 red Toyota Tacoma extended cab pickup with a “thin blue line” sticker on a back window. It was found near Brush Creek Road and Penn Street in Manor, about 5 miles from the homicide scene. Police continued to search that area into Monday evening. Otto said the truck was empty.

Crews have staged at the intersection of Brush Creek Road and Penn Street in Manor where police located a vehicle related to an investigation of a double homicide in Penn Township, officials said. pic.twitter.com/IxggDpWSHk

— Megan Tomasic (@MeganTomasic) May 17, 2021

Back in Penn Township, a motorcycle was towed from the scene around 8:30 p.m. Autopsies were planned for Tuesday morning. Erdeljac purchased the property in 2017 for $213,000, according to deed records.

“There was quite a bit of evidence to gather and to analyze. … There’s some leads that detectives are following up still this evening, but we don’t have anybody that we’re going to identify as perpetrating this crime at this time,” Peck said.

Authorities were looking into whether the deaths were connected to a car explosion Saturday night in North Huntingdon, he said. Township police have not released any information about the incident on Clay Pike.

No charges had been filed in either case. State police were expected to hold a news conference Tuesday.

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