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62-year-old Connellsville man charged with homicide in Uniontown shooting

By The 3 min read
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A 62-year-old man was arrested on homicide charges Friday for allegedly killing a man who had just shot and killed another man in Uniontown last year.

Uniontown police said Bennie Fletcher Jr. of East Apple Street in Connellsville took responsibility for shooting Corey Johnson, 37, of Uniontown when he was apprehended Friday morning.

Police said their investigation indicated Johnson shot Meshach Punter, 25, of Uniontown before Fletcher fired a .38-caliber Colt revolver at Johnson.

Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower said during a press conference that charges were filed against Fletcher last week, but court documents were sealed for 60 days or until the suspect was apprehended. He said 20 officers were working on a detail June 23 when the shootings occurred and arrived on scene in about three minutes.

Police were dispatched at 7:15 that night and found both Punter and Johnson dead. Autopsy results indicated both men died from gunshot wounds. Johnson was found with two bullets in his body.

Fletcher, who lived at the 22 Millview St. residence at the time of the shooting, was found on the porch with blood on his hand. He claimed the blood was on his hand because he fell two days before, and he did not wash it off because he did not have hot water. DNA tests indicated the blood was Punter’s, according to court documents.

Police interviewed a man who lived in the rear portion of the residence who said he was sleeping when he heard gunshots and saw a man slumped over the doorway. He said he saw Fletcher carrying a grey rug or towel to the garbage area behind the house.

A grey tank top, five spent .38-caliber casings, a live .38-caliber round and two shotgun shells were found in the trash behind the residence, according to paperwork filed in the case.

Fletcher’s then live-in girlfriend told police she saw Fletcher with a gun in his waistband that day, the affidavit said.

Uniontown police interviewed Fletcher that night. He said Punter and Johnson were arguing in the apartment, so he went to the kitchen to finish making chicken for dinner. He claimed he heard popping sounds and ran out the back door.

Evidence was sent to the state police crime lab, which revealed gunshot residue on Fletcher’s hands and clothes, court paperwork said.

Police said “numerous” weapons were found at the residence, but ballistic tests indicated only a Colt revolver could have fired the bullets found in and around Johnson’s body.

A .38-caliber Colt revolver was found in Fletcher’s bedroom under a mattress. His DNA was found on the weapon, according to the affidavit.

Fletcher has an extensive criminal history that includes aggravated assault convictions in 1976, 1977 and 1982, a firearm conviction in 1982, two firearms convictions in 1997, and a voluntary manslaughter conviction in 1975.

He was talkative during his arraignment Friday afternoon and said he had appeared before Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros in previous cases.

“How you been?” he asked Metros. “You look good.”

He told his wife that he would be missing an upcoming picnic and asked for prayers.

Fletcher is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, person not to possess a firearm and tampering with physical evidence.

He is lodged in Fayette County Prison without bond.

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