Man Arrested After Police Say He Shot Ex-Girlfriend In Front Of Children
DERRY, Pa. (KDKA) - A woman from Derry Township, Westmoreland County is in critical condition at a Pittsburgh hospital after being shot multiple times by her ex-boyfriend, according to police.
It happened late Sunday night at a house on West First Avenue in Derry.
According to the criminal complaint, the gunman told the victim, "This is the last time you're going to (expletive) me over," then started firing.
Police say the victim, Holly George Embry, broke off a relationship with her former boyfriend and he didn't like it.
The former boyfriend is Arthur Leroy Whitfield.
And aside from the tragedy of the woman's shooting, some of her children witnessed it.
"The 15-year-old daughter, fled that bedroom, and went to an adjacent room in the house, calling out for some of the people that were there, particularly the 21-year-old that was the daughter of Mr. Whitfield," said State Police Tpr. Steve Limani. "The 21-year-old came out, observed her father shooting rounds into the doorway to the bedroom area where Ms. Embry was located."
Embry was shot in the torso.
The gunman fled, but a few hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, witnesses called police with a description of a possible suspect.
"We received numerous phone calls from passers by that had related there was an individual that was hitchhiking along route 217 that fit the description of Mr. Whitfield," said Limani.
He was taken into custody without incident.
Meantime friends of the victims daughter know they'll have to be supportive of their friend at a time like this.
Andrea Shean, a friend of one of the daughters, was shaken.
"She goes to our school," she said. "And I told her whatever she needs I'm here for her. If she needs somewhere to stay for a couple nights I'm here whatever she needs."
Whitfield is in the Westmoreland County Jail facing charges including criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and firearms violations.
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