Three Dead in State College Shooting; Suspect and Victims Identified

Three people, including the alleged shooter, are dead and two are critically injured after shootings Thursday night at P.J. Harrigan’s Bar and Grill on South Atherton Street and a home on Tussey Lane.

According to State College police and Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers, around 10:15 p.m. at the bar next to the Ramada Hotel, 21-year-old Jordan Witmer, of Bellefonte, shot and killed 62-year-old Dean Beachy of Millersburg, Ohio, and critically injured a male and female who have not been identified. They were taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center then transported by Life Flight to another hospital, Chief John Gardner said. The female is believed to be Witmer’s current or former girlfriend.

Witmer left in a car and crashed on Waupelani Drive. From there he broke into a home on Tussey Lane, where police say he shot and killed 83-year-old George McCormick.

McCormick’s wife locked herself in a bathroom and called 911. 

Witmer shot himself in the face and was dead when police arrived, Gardner said.

It was not yet known if Witmer knew any of the deceased and the investigation is ongoing, Sayers said in a news release. Gardner said that only one shooter was involved and Sayers described the shooting as an isolated incident.

BREAKING: State College police chief John Gardner confirmed three people, including the shooter, died tonight. pic.twitter.com/lR6oDretbT

— Onward State (@OnwardState) January 25, 2019