During a preliminary hearing Friday, charges against a Johnstown man, accused in a fatal shooting, were held over for court.
Friday morning, a judge ruled there is enough evidence against the suspect, Tyrone McDuffie, to head to trial. McDuffie is accused of shooting and killing 19-year-old Luke Yuzwa on August 2, 2017.
Police said McDuffie shot and killed Yuzwa along Steel Street in the Old Conemaugh Borough section of Johnstown around 9:30 p.m.
During Friday’s preliminary hearing, detectives, a deputy coroner and an eye witness testified.
That witness said that he was with McDuffie, the victim, and another friend that night for a marijuana drug deal. That’s when he said McDuffie allegedly shot Yuzwa in the head, stole a backpack filled with THC capsules and edible marijuana brownies, and ran away.
Photographs, surveillance video and a 911 call recording were also submitted as evidence.
Police are still searching for another person of interest.
“We have great witnesses, we had people call 911 right away and cooperate with this case right away. If that didn’t happen, we wouldn’t have what we have. I really appreciate two eye witnesses stepping forward and all the hard work Johnstown is doing. Evidence-wise, we’re still investigating, still collecting evidence,” said Scott Lilly, Chief Deputy District Attorney for Cambria County.
McDuffie’s defense attorney said his client plans to plead not guilty to all charges against him, including criminal homicide and robbery.
A formal arraignment is scheduled for November 21st.