PSP: Fatal shooting in Franklin County likely targeted

(Greencastle) — State police have revealed they are searching for whoever was responsible for fatally shooting three people last weekend, two of whom police found tied up and already dead.

State Police Chambersburg Station Commander Lt. Gary Carter said Tuesday state police believe the shooting late Saturday night at a property on Welsh Run Road was targeted and they are looking for a shooter, but police do not believe there is any immediate danger to the public.

Until that statement, it was unclear if police were looking for a suspect outside of the victims.

Wendy Chaney, 39, Hagerstown, Md., Brandon Cole, 46, Fayetteville, and Philip Matthew Jackson, 36, Greencastle, were all shot Saturday night, with Chaney and Cole dying at the home in the 11000 block of Welsh Run Road, and Jackson dying as a result of his injuries at York Hospital, according to a report from PSP-Chambersburg on Sunday.

Carter said the slow release of other information about the incident has been due to the intensity of the investigation, with troopers on the scene for nearly 20 hours after first responding just before midnight. He also said due to the state of the investigation, he could not say whether or not PSP has suspects or any other additional information.

According to court documents filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Lindsey Trace in order to search the property, PSP went to the home around 11:34 p.m. Saturday, after a man called and reported that his brother was “tied up and bleeding” at the address. When they arrived, they found Cole and Chaney dead, and Jackson severely injured. There was also a fire at the residence.

Jackson, found to be the resident of the property, was flown to York with severe injuries but later died. Cole and Chaney were at the property, bound and dead when police arrived.

The property had two residential buildings, a garage and a barn, the documents state. There were also 10 vehicles on the property, and a second warrant was filed for a 2014 Toyota Corolla that had apparently been driven around the barn and crashed into a split rail fence. The car had been abandoned.

Court documents show the car was owned by Toyota Lease Trust, most likely meaning payments were still due on it.

The documents state there was probable cause to conclude that there were two people murdered and one person severely injured at the property. The documents state a desire by police to collect hair, fibers, biological material, blood, DNA, soil, dirt, debris, gunpowder, ammunition, firearms, controlled substances, electronic devices, and photographs. Scientific analysis was also requested for the collected evidence.

A search of court records related to each person shows that Chaney and Cole hadhistory with drug charges in Maryland.

Neighbors of the home told Public Opinion that they often heard gunshots at the Welsh Run Road property.

State police said in their original release that there is no known motive for the shootings.

Police had not released any further information.

This article comes to us through a content-sharing partnership between WITF and theChambersburg Public Opinion.