Arrest made in 2013 death of man killed trying to stop bank robber outside South Strabane Giant Eagle
SOUTH STRABANE, Pa. (KDKA) - An arrest has been made nearly 10 years after a man was shot and killed outside a Giant Eagle in South Strabane while trying to stop a bank robber.
Keith Wilk of Pittsburgh was arrested in 46-year-old Vincent Kelley's death, Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh announced Tuesday.
On Father's Day, June 16, 2013, Kelley was shopping inside the South Strabane Township Giant Eagle when the Citizen's Bank got robbed.
Kelley chased after the suspect as he ran to a car. In a tussle in the suspect's vehicle, Kelley was shot multiple times and died. The suspect got away.
Investigators later released surveillance pictures of the robbery, a picture of the getaway car and information on a stolen license plate from the area of Bridgeville and Scott Township.
Walsh said DNA from an umbrella the suspect was carrying on the day of the robbery and information from someone who knew about the shooting led them to the arrest.
According to the criminal complaint, Wilk's former girlfriend recently came forward after he allegedly confessed to her in 2020 that he robbed a Citizen's Bank and shot the man who tried to stop him.
"We hope this arrest will bring a sense of justice to the family and to the community," South Strabane Township police said.
Kelley's family got the call on Tuesday morning.
"I cried," said Mark Kelley, the man's brother. "It was very emotional because I never thought they would call or come. I never thought this day would come because it's been almost 10 years."
"He called and said we got him," he added. "He said we are putting the cuffs on as we speak. I couldn't have gotten better news before Christmas."
The family feared justice was never going to be served, but they held out for an arrest.
"It brings satisfaction to know that finally, I don't have to think about waiting on this person or crossing paths with this person," said Vincent's daughter, Sierra Kelley.
"It's overwhelming for all of us," said Linda Lucas, Vincent's sister. "But we need to see this through for him. We have to get justice for him. We owe that to him. We miss him very much."
"He doesn't know what an angel he took off this Earth when he killed my brother. He will have his time to pay for that," Vincent's brother John Kelley said.
