According to search warrants obtained by us police say the driver who crashed Monday night in Dale Borough was reportedly shot in the head prior to the rollover accident.
Authorities say first responders were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. Monday, to the intersection of David Street and Messenger Street, for reports of a single-vehicle rollover crash with two occupants entrapped.
Johnstown police say officers later learned that the driver, a female, had reportedly been shot in the head prior to crashing the car.
Officers say the passenger of the vehicle reported hearing a “pop,” like a gunshot, just before the crash.
Upon further investigation, authorities say officers reviewed nearby surveillance footage which reportedly showed an unidentified individual, wearing a hooded jacket, in the area near the Dale Borough Office Building.
Police say the individual could be seen walking around in the area of the eventual crash scene and was reportedly talking on the phone with someone.
Authorities say a short time later, the video allegedly shows a dark-colored vehicle, matching the car involved in the crash, traveling inbound along David Street.
Police say the individual in the surveillance footage then reportedly approaches the vehicle and begins to damage it.
Officers say the car then flees at a high-rate of speed, before crashing approximately one block away, and the video shows the suspect individual running away from the scene.
Police say additional surveillance footage then captures the suspect in the same area prior to the shooting and then fleeing the scene.
Authorities say officers then spoke with the victim’s family, who reportedly identified the suspect as Tyree Carter, with whom she allegedly had a prior relationship with.
Police noted in the search warrants that, according to the family, Carter had an alleged history of abusing the victim and had reportedly threatened her a week prior to the shooting and subsequent crash.
Authorities say officers discovered that Carter had a history of firearms-related offenses and his description reportedly matched that of the individuals in the surveillance footage.
According to Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer, authorities are searching for Carter as a “person of interest” in the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact 911, or the non-emergency number in Cambria County at 814-472-2100, and ask for Johnstown Police.