Update: Identities of suspect, victim in fatal Farrell shooting released
Police are on the lookout for the suspect involved in a deadly shooting in Mercer County.
According to the criminal complaint, police are looking for 23-year-old Yishmael Lee in connection to the Sunday morning shooting at the Twin City Elks Lodge. The victim of the shooting has been identified as 22-year-old Lay'Onte Hammonds.
The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in the 300 block of Staunton Street. A Farrell officer reported hearing a single gunshot coming from the area and saw people running from the scene.
According to the complaint, a person used a flashlight to get the officer's attention, calling him over to the area where Hammonds was lying on the ground. Police say Hammonds was bleeding from a gunshot wound on the top of his head.
Officers attempted life-saving measures at the scene and Hammonds was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Police spoke with witnesses at the scene who described two men, one of which was Lee. Witnesses say Lee and Hammonds were fighting until Hammonds got control of Lee.
The complaint says the other man, identified as Louis Brewer, punched Hammonds in the face to get him off of Lee. When Lee was able to break free, he allegedly shot Hammonds.
A .40 caliber shell casing was found near where the victim had been lying on the ground.
Less than two hours before the shooting, police say they stopped Lee and ran a .40 caliber gun that he had.
Mercer County District Attorney Pete Acker told 21 News that Lee is not in custody and a warrant is out for his arrest. Lee is described as a Black male with black hair and brown eyes.
He is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault.
This is the second shooting in the last few days in Farrell.
Early Friday morning, a SWAT team and dozens of police officers from Farrell, Hermitage, Jefferson and Sharon converged on the Luxx Convenience store on Indiana Avenue for a police-involved shooting.
A victim from that scene was flown to the hospital.
Mercer County District Attorney Pete Acker told 21 News that an officer was knocked to the ground and lying on his back when the suspect approached him with his gun drawn. That's when a citizen stepped in and shot the suspect.
As the scene at the store wrapped up, Farrell Police were called to investigate a report of shots fired on Hamilton Avenue, but the status of that investigation is unclear.
Related coverage: DA, State Police investigate police-involved shooting in Farrell