Suspect arrested in fatal Ellsworth shooting
A suspect is in police custody after a man was shot and killed in an Ellsworth home Sunday night.
Christopher Tarkelo Harper, 18, of Ellsworth, faces felony charges of criminal homicide, burglary and carrying a firearm without a license.
State police accuse Harper of shooting Elijah Thomas Johnson in the head at about 11 p.m. at 24 Walnut St.
Rocco Gagliardi, a state police spokesperson, said Johnson was arrested Monday by New Castle Police Department.
“They were able to get Harper into custody and transfer him over to the New Castle PSP barracks, where we are awaiting to see if they can transfer him back down to Washington County,” Gagliardi said at a press conference Monday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, there were “several” juveniles at the Walnut Street home having a sleepover when the shooting occurred.
Harper is accused of shooting Johnson, 21, of Carnegie, in an upstairs bedroom where Johnson was with his girlfriend, who is described in the complaint as Harper’s ex-girlfriend.
A juvenile witness told investigators that she was outside when Harper pulled up on a dirt bike and parked. Court records state she followed Harper inside and stood at the base of the stairs and watched him remove a handgun from his backpack before entering the bedroom.
Surveillance footage from a neighboring home captured Harper arriving on the dirt bike, and driving away about two minutes later.
Harper’s girlfriend said she was on the phone and had her back to Johnson when she heard the gunshot. A juvenile male was also in the room and reported hearing a gunshot but not seeing or hearing Harper before the shooting occurred.
Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco declared Johnson dead at the scene at 4:14 a.m. Monday.
State police Lt. Daniel Boyd said they were able to determine through interviews that Harper may have fled to New Castle.
“We had information on a possible person he was traveling with,” Boyd said.
According to Boyd, Harper was in the process of being extradited to Washington County on Monday.
Harper also faces misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment. He has not been arraigned on the charges.