Victim's dad: Son had run-in with suspect before deadly car wash shooting

MELCROFT, Pa. -- The father of one of four people gunned down by a jealous ex-boyfriend says the suspected shooter had an altercation with his son at a bar hours before the deadly rampage. Scott Porterfield told the Tribune Review he's seen security footage from Tall Cedars lounge in rural Donegal, about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, that shows the shooter placing his hand on his son Billy Porterfield's shoulder early Sunday morning. 

A staff member asked Timothy Smith to leave, and his son remained at the bar, he said. 

Hours later, police said Smith had fatally shot 27-year-old Billy Porterfield and three others at a self-serve car wash in rural Fayette County: Chelsie Cline, 25; Courtney Snyder, 23; Seth Cline, 21. Another woman who managed to hide in the back seat of a truck survived with minor injuries.   

Smith, 28, suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He's on life support and isn't expected to survive what authorities believe may be a self-inflicted injury. 

Exactly why the group was at the car wash just before 3 a.m., and how Smith knew they would be there is unclear. 

Investigators are trying to access phone records to help piece together the events leading up to the shooting, said Trooper Robert Broadwater. 

Smith was obsessed with Cline after they dated, leaving beer for her on her car and sending her flowers and other presents, Chelsie Cline's half-sister, Sierra Kolarik, told the Tribune-Review. 

Porterfield's pregnant wife has said Chelsie Cline became involved with her husband recently. His father told the newspaper Porterfield had been thinking about getting divorced. 

Porterfield said she was told by family members of other victims that her husband and Cline had spent the past two days together after Cline ended a relationship with Smith. Porterfield said that she and her husband - who were married in November - had been "having some troubles" this month. 

Cline shared a meme on her Facebook page last week that read, "After this week, I rlly (sic) need to get taken out ... on a date or by a sniper either one is fine w me at this point." Tim Smith, who was friends with her on Facebook, replied, "I could do both."

More than 150 people attended a vigil Monday night at Christian Life Assembly church in Melcroft.

"Such a tragedy can cause us to isolate ourselves from the community," said the Rev. Doug Nolt, pastor of Indian Head Church of God. "But such a tragedy can also bring us together. We will not let this tragedy overcome us."