May 14, 2002 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

State police are continuing to search for Thomas Edward Miller II of Masontown who is charged with shooting one man to death and critically wounding a second man early Sunday morning in Ronco. Miller, 31, faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person for allegedly killing Charles David Springer, 28, of Ronco and wounding Springer’s stepfather Andrew John “Boo” King, 45, of Brownsville.

King is in critical condition in Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., according to a spokesperson there.

Springer was pronounced dead at the scene by Fayette County deputy coroner Alvin Sapp.

Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said an autopsy confirmed that Springer died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

“He was shot by another person – that makes it a homicide,” Reilly said.

Miller allegedly shot King and Springer with what police believe were rifle slugs fired from a 12-gauge shotgun at 2:35 a.m. outside of his home at 295 Ronco Road at the intersection with Short Cut Road. King was also shot in the chest, police said.

According to the arrest warrant, after police arrived on the scene, a local fireman’s wife, Loura Smith, told police that she heard King say, “We were shot. Miller shot us.”

State trooper James Monkelis said he also interviewed Miller’s parents, Barbara and Thomas Miller, who said their son walked out of his home with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun.

The parents told police that they heard shouting, threats being made and two gunshots before he returned home.

Thomas Miller reported hearing a man yell, “I’ve been shot.” Barbara Miller then called Fayette County 911 and the defendant then fled the scene.

“We’re running down a lot of leads, but nothing has developed yet,” said state police trooper John Mosser, public information officer for the Uniontown barracks.

He described the search for Miller as an “hour-by-hour” investigation and said there are no confirmed reports that he left the area.

Miller should be considered armed and dangerous, Mosser said.

Fayette County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 to anybody who provides information that leads to Miller’s arrest. The information can be given anonymously.

Anybody with information about Miller’s whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers are 724-437-8477 or state police at 724-439-7111.

Miller is a 5-foot-9-inch white man, weighing about 200 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and numerous tattoos.

Tanya King, Andrew King’s wife, and Springer’s mother, said she thought it was a case of mistaken identity, noting that her family didn’t know Miller.

She said her husband said he was coming from a bar he owns in Masontown when the shooting happened.