One person is dead and another man is in custody after a shooting in Johnstown.
According to police, just before 1 a.m. Thursday, Eddie Wanamaker, 30, was shot and killed after a fight broke out inside The Clubhouse bar along Ash Street in Johnstown.
Wanamaker reportedly died at the scene.
“Mr. Wanamaker passed away from a gunshot wound and the manner of death is being ruled a homicide,” said Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees.
Police arrested and charged Nijan Joiner, 29, of Johnstown in connection to the shooting. He’s facing criminal homicide, aggravated assault and prohibited possession of a firearm charges.
Police said surveillance video from inside the bar shows Wanamaker and Joiner fighting. That’s when police say Joiner pulled out a gun, killing Wanamaker.
“Based on what I can see in the video, it appears they knew each other, yes,” said Johnstown Police Chief Robert Johnson.
This is not the first time police have been called to The Clubhouse bar. Police said they have received 42 calls since October of 2012 for reports of violence, weapons and theft. There was also a fatal shooting on Ash Street in October of 2016.
“You would expect a bar to have a certain number of fist fights and public drunk behavior, but I would say the behavior we see from this location is rather out of the ordinary,” said Johnstown Police Chief Robert Johnson.
Chief Johnson said he contacted the state liquor control board to try to shut down the bar and stop the violence.
“I would like to see them closed. However, that’s up to [the liquor control board]. I think the criteria exists to do that. Certainly, to put their license in jeopardy,” Chief Johnson said.
This is the eighth homicide in Cambria County so far in 2017.
Police are still investigating the motive behind the shooting. They said they will continue to step up police presence in the area.
Joiner is being held at the Cambria County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for November 9.