A planned gun sale outside a Connellsville church turned into a shooting that left one man with gunshot wounds to the head, according to police. The violence unfolded on Feb. 9 in the parking lot of Otterbein United Methodist Church on Lincoln Avenue, after what investigators say began as an arranged gun purchase quickly spiraled out of control.
Court documents state that 21-year-old Gavin Kover of Canonsburg was one of two people who allegedly opened fire during the meetup. He is charged with attempted homicide along with conspiracy to commit homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment, as reported by Herald-Standard. Kover is being held without bond in the Fayette County jail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 23.
Investigators say the victims had been communicating with a user on Snapchat and agreed to pay $800 for four guns. When they met in the church lot, they handed over $400 as part of the deal, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Police say a suspect then passed over a bag that “did not add up to the weight of the four guns,” and that Kover told an associate he was “gonna have to use the 9” before shots rang out. “The plan was to rob them. There wasn't even an exchange that could have taken place,” Connellsville Police Sgt. Bryan Kendi said. One victim was rushed to a local hospital and is expected to survive.
Investigators say cellphone records and vehicle registration data helped identify Kover and link him to a red 2015 Hyundai Sonata spotted at the scene, according to Herald-Standard. The outlet also reports that the wounded man was taken first to Penn Highlands Hospital and later transferred to UPMC Presbyterian, and that prosecutors have not yet charged the other people investigators say were present during the shooting.
Police Ask Witnesses To Come Forward
Connellsville police say the Charleroi Regional Police Department provided a photo that helped identify one suspect, and investigators believe there are more witnesses who have not yet spoken up. “They know who they are. We're hoping they'll come forward and speak to us and explain why they were near the scene on camera,” Sgt. Kendi said, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh.
Police say the investigation remains active and that additional charges could follow as detectives continue to review surveillance footage and cellphone records. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Connellsville Police Department. Prosecutors have not released further details ahead of the scheduled preliminary hearing.
