Ohio police nab Fayette slaying suspect
A Ronco man wanted by state police for allegedly killing one man and wounding another outside of his home Sunday was arrested Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio. Thomas Edward Miller II, 31, of 295 Ronco Road was arrested at approximately 6 p.m. at the residence of an “associate,” state police Sgt. Charles Depp, crime unit supervisor, said at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Uniontown barracks.
He said police in Cleveland took Miller into custody with force, giving him “no chance to resist.”
Miller will remain in a Cuyahoga County, Ohio, jail without bond until his extradition to Fayette County is resolved.
Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon, who commended state police for resolving the case in a “prompt and expedient fashion” said Miller’s extradition hearing would be conducted Wednesday in Cleveland.
Miller would be returned to Fayette County in a day or two if he waives the hearing, Depp said.
If he fights extradition, state police would have to present their case to a judge in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and Gov. Mark Schweiker would have to issue a governor’s warrant requesting extradition back to Pennsylvania. Depp said it would take a month to six weeks to resolve an extradition dispute.
When Miller arrives back in Fayette County, he will face charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. State trooper James Monkelis already filed a complaint against Miller in District Justice Brenda Cavalcante’s office in Masontown.
Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the motive behind the shooting which claimed the life of Charles David Springer, 28, of Ronco and wounded Springer’s stepfather Andrew John “Boo” King, 45, of Brownsville.
Depp said Springer and King were driving and talking when they pulled over at the intersection of Ronco and Short Cut roads, which is adjacent to Miller’s residence, at 2:35 a.m. to continue their discussion. Depp said Miller and Springer knew each other. King owns Adolph’s Tavern in Masontown.
Miller approached the vehicle and “words were exchanged,” Depp said. At one point, Miller told the pair to leave.
He allegedly went back to his house, retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun and fired one shot that traveled through Springer and struck King, Depp said. The men were outside of the vehicle when they were shot, Depp said. The rifled slug hit both men in their chests. Police have the weapon.
“There was a verbal confrontation that led to the shooting,” Depp said.
He said police are trying to learn more about that confrontation and King has provided some help.
King is improving daily, Depp said, and has talked to police, but he remains in serious condition in Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va.
State police also want to know how Miller managed to flee to Cleveland and authorities there might file charges against the person whom he stayed with.
He left the scene of the shooting after his mother called Fayette County 911 and reported the incident. Miller’s parents told police they saw him walk out of the house with a loaded shotgun and heard two gunshots.