1 Dead In Rostraver Twp. Shooting
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A shooting at a Westmoreland County motor sports store left one person dead Monday morning.
According to officials, the incident happened at Minniti Motorsports in the 100-block of Tri County Lane in Rostraver Township around 8:15 a.m.
The suspect entered the store and fatally shot an employee at the front desk. The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Drew Molinari.
"I wanted to stop [at the shooting scene] to see where one of my best friends took his last breath," said Shane Marinos, a friend of the victim.
Marinos, of Fayette City, tearfully looked at the auto parts business in Belle Vernon Monday evening where Molinari was shot and killed when the gunman opened fire.
The motive for the crime has not been disclosed.
Marinos said he spent a good part of the weekend with Molinari, working on Molinari's recently purchased boat, visiting some local nightspots, and then going to the Rivers Casino.
"Drew was in a good mood," Marinos said. "He was a good person; he would help anybody."
According to witnesses, the business owner, Joe Minniti, suffered a panic attack and was taken to Mon Valley Hospital for treatment.
"Joey was in the back and heard something like it fell, he came out and it was gunshots and Drew was on the floor dead," Dawn Shuma said.
Minniti used to be a Belle Vernon councilman, but resigned last spring.
The suspect fled the store and was last seen wearing a blue, hooded-sweatshirt.
Just before 11 a.m. police responded to another report of shots fired. No other details have been released.
Police are still looking for the suspect. It's not known if the suspect fled on foot or in a vehicle.
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