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Coroner says man committed suicide

By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said a forensic pathologist recovered a small caliber bullet in the head of an Allegheny County man who reportedly fled from Perryopolis police on Thursday. Because Patrick Reilly’s gun was also a small caliber, and police involved in the chase had larger caliber weapons, Vernon said Dr. Cyril Wecht determined that Reilly died of suicide.

And while a Perryopolis police officer, Sgt. Dan Ladowitz, fired a shot as police chased Reilly, 47, of Dravosburg, Vernon said that authorities are certain that Ladowitz’s bullet did not hit Reilly.

“I know that (Ladowitz’s) bullet is still in the tree. Metal detectors found it there and the bullet hole is still in the tree,” Vernon said Saturday afternoon. “The gunshot (that killed Reilly) definitely came from the deceased’s weapon.”

On Thursday afternoon, police said Ladowitz conducted a routine traffic stop on Reilly. When the officer ran Reilly’s license through the National Crime Information Center, he came back wanted on an arrest warrant.

That warrant, according to online records, is for burglary and related charges out of Huntingdon County.

Police said when Ladowitz returned to Reilly’s car, he fled, eventually crashing his vehicle into a creek and running from police on foot.

At some point during the foot chase, police said Reilly shot himself.

Vernon said that Wecht’s report siad Reilly shot himself in the back of his head, toward the back of his temple.

She said the report indicated that the bullet traveled down through the back of Reilly’s neck, into his mouth and ricocheted through his brain, killing him.

Vernon said there was no exit wound, but indicated that is not uncommon when small caliber bullets are used.

To further support that Reilly committed suicide, Vernon said that there were blackened edges around the entrance wound of the bullet, meaning that the gun had to be held in close proximity to Reilly’s head.

Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said Friday that both ballistics and toxicology tests are also pending and indicated he would probably schedule an inquest in the matter.

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