State police release more details as probe ongoing in Pittsburgh man's killing in Venango
FRANKLIN — Authorities investigating the fatal shooting of an Allegheny County man at a gathering in Venango County earlier this month have released new details on the incident as they await autopsy and other results in the ongoing homicide probe.
No one had been charged as of Wednesday afternoon in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Pittsburgh resident Peter Bernardo Spencer, who was killed while at a location in the 200 block of Carls Road in Rockland Township on the early morning of Dec. 12.
The Pennsylvania State Police initially reported after the shooting that Spencer was found dead in the front yard of a residence after troopers were called to Carls Road to investigate a report of a shooting that happened sometime between 1 a.m. and 2:26 a.m. on Dec. 12.
Man dead in Venango County shooting: State police await autopsy as probe continues into fatal shooting at Venango County gathering
Investigators said Spencer had apparent gunshot wounds to his body.
State police also reported at the time that there was a gathering at the Carls Road location that involved alcohol and "gunplay," and that one person, a 25-year-old male, was detained.
Investigators wrote in an updated news release that was issued on Wednesday afternoon that the 25-year-old man and three other people were detained and questioned by troopers and were released following consultation with the Venango County District Attorney's Office pending further investigation.
Troopers wrote in the updated news release that multiple firearms, ballistic evidence, and controlled substances were seized from the scene.
The state police Troop E Major Case Team was activated for the investigation and members of the agency's Heritage Affairs were notified of the incident, according to the release.
The state police Heritage Affairs section is primarily responsible for training troopers on implicit bias, building relationships within historically underserved communities, and preventing and responding to hate/bias-related crimes, according to information on the agency's website.
An autopsy on Spencer was performed on Dec. 14, but the results are pending, state police reported. Investigators said they are also awaiting the results of toxicology testing, laboratory testing and ballistics reports.
The Venango County District Attorney's Office will review the case and all forensic reports and make a charging recommendation once the investigation is completed, according to state police.
"The Pennsylvania State Police requests the public to remain patient, we are actively investigating this incident and are providing all investigative updates to the District Attorney's Office as appropriate," officials wrote in the release.
Anyone with information that could aid the investigation is asked to call Trooper Andrew Hagan in Franklin at 814-676-6596.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Venango County homicides: State police release more details in man's death
