Suspect wanted in California shooting
California Borough Police are on the hunt for a 22-year-old Turtle Creek student from California University of Pennsylvania who allegedly shot a fellow student in the leg. Police Chief Rick Encapera said that Vikram Yamba shot a 22-year-old Elizabeth man inside McMonagles Bar on Union Street, not far from the campus. The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. Saturday and Yamba pointed his gun at bar security as he fled.
The victim, Encapera declined to identify because his family had yet to be notified, did not have an exit wound from the shot.
McMonagles, a popular hangout for students, was partiularly crowded on Friday into Saturday, Encapera said.
“This is like a holiday weekend for our students,” he said, noting that Friday was Reading Day on campus and there were no classes.
“It’s the day where (students) don’t have school so they can prepare for finals,” Encapera said.
The chief noted that police do not frequently have problems at McMonagles.
Encapera said what prompted the shooting remains a mystery.
“We do know that they were acquaintances, but we can only speculate as to what it was over,” he said Saturday evening.
Encapera said there has been a felony warrant issued for Yamba’s arrest, charging him with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and various firearms violations.
The Herald-Standard’s news exchange partner, WPXI Channel 11, has reported that campus police are operating under a heightened level of security. Campus police have posted Yamba’s picture outside of every residence hall and are requiring students as well as their guests to show photo identification before entering a dorm.