'It was kind of shocking:' Small Butler County borough rocked by homicide inside home
EAU CLAIRE (KDKA) — State police arrested a 23-year-old man after he allegedly killed his mother's 28-year-old boyfriend in a small borough in Butler County.
Seeing crime scene tape and a street full of investigators is not a normal sight in Eau Claire, Butler County, a borough with a population of around 300 people.
"Well, it was kind of shocking. I mean we're a small community," said Eau Claire Mayor Bruce Toth.
Mayor Toth said he ran out the door and spent hours at the scene after he learned someone was shot and killed in his borough on Thursday night.
Toth has been the mayor for 30 years or so. He and others living there said they can't recall any past homicides.
"We haven't had any homicides in town… There may have been some early on. I've been here since '74 and I can't remember anything inside the border," said Mayor Toth.
State police said 28-year-old Seth Gooden-Smith of Polk was found dead after he was shot multiple times in a home on East Main Street.
Dakota Hughes was taken into custody. The 23-year-old was charged with homicide and aggravated assault.
According to the criminal complaint, Hughes called 911 around 7:40 p.m. and reported that he shot Gooden-Smith with his registered gun.
"It's kind of tragic, you know, something like that but I don't know what's going to take place, whether it's going to be like justifiable homicide, all the facts aren't out yet… Hopefully, the young boy that did the shooting will be okay too, he's a nice young fella," Mayor Toth said.
The criminal complaint said Hughes told troopers in an interview that Gooden-Smith entered the house with Hughes' mother. The two were in a relationship and she also lives in the home.
The complaint said Hughes informed his mom's boyfriend that he was not welcome in the residence and told him to get out. According to the court paperwork, Hughes told troopers Gooden-Smith approached him and that he shot Gooden-Smith.
"It's something every community doesn't want to have happen, but you just can't control it. The world's changed, I guess," said Mayor Toth.
Hughes' bail was denied during his preliminary arraignment on Friday morning. He remains in the Butler County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing.
