Four people are dead after a shooting at a Pennsylvania car wash early Sunday morning, according to state police.
Police said Timothy Smith, 28, shot and killed two men and two women just before 3 a.m. at Ed’s Car Wash on Indian Creek Valley Road in Melcroft, located about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
The victims -- identified as William Porterfield, 27; Chelsie Cline, 25; Courtney Snyder, 23; and Seth Cline, 21 -- were pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s hard to deal with,” said Jeff Cline, a cousin of Chelsie Cline and her half brother, Seth Cline. “They were good kids.”
Smith was on life support following the shooting and is not expected to survive, police said. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head that authorities believe was self-inflicted.
Chelsie Cline's sister, Sierra Kolarik, said Chelsie had briefly been involved with Smith and broke things off months ago. Kolarik told WPXI that Smith would still do things for her, such as bringing her flowers when she was sick.
“He would leave her stuff on her car,” Kolarik said. “She'd get done with work and she'd come out and there would be a case of beer on her hood or scratch-off tickets or anything. If he found out she was sick, he'd bring her flowers.”
Cortney Snyder was a mother to a 4-year-old boy. A friend said she would do anything for anyone and worked at Living Treasures Animal Park.
Investigators said Smith used a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun in the shooting.
According to police, Smith arrived at the scene earlier in a red Toyota Tacoma and parked on the side of the car wash. Police said Smith wore a body armor carrier and had several magazines of ammo.
Police said the victims arrived in two separate vehicles: Porterfield and Chelsie Cline in a silver Dodge, and Snyder and Seth Cline in a green pickup truck.
Porterfield and Chelsie Cline were killed inside their vehicle while near the side of the car wash, officials said. Snyder and Seth Cline were also shot and killed in their vehicle.
“That’s crazy. This happens in Pittsburgh, not here,” Dick Kalp, who lives behind a nearby convenience store and called police, said. “This is a quiet place usually.”
One woman took cover in the back seat of the pickup truck and avoided being shot, police said. She suffered minor injuries from broken glass.
Police have said there is no threat to the community.
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