Bentleyville man killed in West Pike Run shooting
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
State police said that Joseph Volcheck of Daisytown was flown to a Pittsburgh-area hospital, and Robert Watson of Bentleyville was pronounced dead following a fight between the men at 373 Sunset Drive in West Pike Run Township, Washington County, on Tuesday.
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
John Carbone, right, hugs his daughter, Barb Volcheck, whose husband, Joseph Volcheck, was flown to Allegheny General Hospital following a fight on Tuesday. State police said Robert Watson of Bentleyville was shot and killed during the altercation, and Volcheck was assaulted. Authorities are continuing to investigate what happened at the West Pike Run Township, Washington County home.
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
State police were summoned to 373 Sunset Drive in West Pike Run Township on Tuesday to investigate the fatal shooting of Robert Watson of Bentleyville and the assault of Joseph Bolcheck of Daisytown.
WEST PIKE RUN TWP. — State police say one man was fatally shot and another was injured after an altercation at a farm Tuesday morning in West Pike Run Township, Washington County.
Trooper Stefani Plume said Robert Joseph Watson, 43, of Bentleyville was pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco.
Joseph Volcheck, no age listed, of Daisytown suffered injuries in the incident and was treated and released from a Pittsburgh hospital Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the fight occurred around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday inside a barn on the farm, located on Sunset Drive.
John Carbone said he was sleeping at his residence when the altercation occurred, apparently inside his barn. He said that he spoke to his son-in-law, Volcheck, before he was taken to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment of head injuries.
“Joe said he (Watson) came at him like a wild man with a pipe and that he had to defend himself,” Carbone said, as he huddled with a few friends and family across the road from his home. He said that the two men had known each other “all their lives” and had essentially grown up together.
Police said that a utility worker laboring in the area heard a gunshot and found Watson inside the barn and Volcheck injured in the driveway.
Warco said the cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds to Watson’s chest and that the manner of death has been ruled a homicide. Police have not said how many shots were fired and have not released what type of gun was used in the shooting.
Police are still continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting to determine if they will file charges in the matter.
The farm house sits in a secluded section of Sunset Drive, surrounded by browning fields and autumn-hued foliage, at sharp contrast with the yellow and black police tape cordoning off the residence and adjacent barn.
Troopers from Washington, Uniontown and Belle Vernon are investigating.
The state police forensics unit also responded to the scene and documented and collected evidence.
Plume said that Volcheck is cooperating fully with police.