16-year-old charged in slaying
Authorities arrested a 16-year-old Uniontown boy Thursday on charges that he shot and killed a Brownsville man in the city Monday evening. Christopher Martell Duncan of 101 Penn St. allegedly shot Michael Jointer, 19, in the head during a confrontation along Coolspring and Dunlap streets. Duncan was charged as an adult with single counts of criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license.
Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said during a press conference that police could not comment on a motive for the shooting, because other arrests could arise from the investigation
She also declined to specify the nature of the confrontation between Duncan and Jointer.
“All we can say at this time is there was a confrontation. During the confrontation, (Jointer) was shot in the head,” Vernon said.
Uniontown Police Chief Kyle Sneddon said Jointer and Duncan knew one another and that other people were present during the fight, all of them acquaintances.
Before police arrested Duncan, they conducted an estimated 30 interviews.
In an arrest affidavit filed by patrolman Donald M. Gmitter, authorities allege that Duncan and two others went to the Coolspring Street home of Lois Jordan and told Robert Foster about the shooting.
Police said Foster sold Duncan the gun, a .380 caliber semi-automatic, “earlier,” according to the affidavit. Vernon said authorities had no plans to file charges against Foster.
Vernon said it was unclear why Jointer, who lived in Brownsville, was in Uniontown on Monday night. Sneddon said Jointer used to live in the same area as Duncan.
Vernon said she could not discuss whether any weapons or other items were found on Jointer’s body.
Police, she said, “have ample statements … as well as physical evidence” tying Duncan to the crime.
Duncan’s older brother, Brandon, is serving a 20- to 40-year sentence for third-degree murder, Sneddon said. Brandon Duncan, 22, was 18 when he fatally shot Gregory “Wooz Dogg” Delbridge over a DVD player on Sept. 16, 2000.
Sneddon, Vernon and state police Sgt. David Heckman all praised the cooperative effort between state police and Uniontown officers in doing a thorough investigation that led to a quick arrest.
“When agencies cooperate together like this, the citizens of Fayette County benefit,” Heckman said.
During his arraignment Thursday morning before Magisterial District Judge Randy Abraham, Duncan sat quietly, looking at his cuffed hands as he answered questions. Duncan, wearing a white T-shirt and baggy blue jeans, told Abraham that he lived at the Penn Street address for about two months, but had lived in Fayette County since fourth grade.
He said he is unemployed and has a child on the way.
Duncan told Abraham he had no prior record.
When Abraham asked Duncan if he was addicted to drugs or alcohol, Duncan replied, “not addicted.”
Duncan was committed to the Fayette County Prison without bond, as is generally done in all criminal homicide cases.