A Johnstown man is behind bars in connection to a deadly shooting in Old Conemaugh Borough. Now, police are searching for a person of interest: the man seen on the right in this surveillance video.
Investigators said Tyrone McDuffie shot and killed 19-year-old Luke Yuzwa near the 900 block of Steel Street around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Thursday, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees ruled Yuzwa’s death a homicide.
“I think what it illustrates is the blatant disregard for human life,” said Johnstown Police Chief Robert Johnson.
Detectives are still investigating why McDuffie and Yuzwa were in the area, but they say it could be drug related.
“Right now we believe there was a drug transaction that was occurring and that’s why we believe they had met up,” said Johnstown Police Detective Mark Britton.
Police said surveillance video from a nearby store shows the shooting and the suspect stealing a backpack from the victim before taking off.
“Whether or not he knew what was in that backpack or he thought there was something in there. So we’re trying to figure where the firearm is and where the backpack is,” Britton said.
Police have discovered other important evidence.
“We do have two eyewitnesses and we also recovered a significant if not substantial piece of evidence that’s going to help the case dramatically,” said Johnson.
McDuffie was arrested on Adams Street just after 10 p.m.. A Stonycreek Township police officer spotted him while on patrol.
“Everybody was in the right place at the right time and there was a lot of good police work that occurred,” Johnson said.
For now, the investigation continues. Police said it’s not a matter of who pulled the trigger, but why and whether McDuffie had any help.
McDuffie is facing criminal homicide and robber charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 15.
Anyone with information on the shooting or the man in the surveillance video is asked to contact police or the Cambria County 911 center by calling 814-472-2100.