FARRELL, Pa. – A fatal shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning outside a Farrell Elks lodge, as stated by local authorities. The incident resulted in the death of Lay-Onte D. Hammonds, 22, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses flagged down a corporal from the Farrell Police Department around 2:30 a.m. upon hearing a gunshot from the Twin City Elks Lodge.
Witnesses at the scene revealed that a physical altercation ensued between Hammonds, Louis Brewer, and the shooter, Yishmael Lee, with tragic consequences. Hammonds was reportedly grappling with Lee when Brewer intervened by hitting Hammonds to free Lee, who then proceeded to shoot Hammonds. Despite efforts to save him, Hammonds passed away at UPMC Horizon shortly after.
Police authorities have identified Yishmael Lee as the prime suspect in the incident, issuing a warrant for his arrest on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault. This unfortunate event marks the third shooting incident in Farrell within the week, following two unrelated shootings earlier that week.
In a separate incident, officers responded to reports of a man with a gun at Luxx convenience store on Hamilton Avenue, where a confrontation with an officer led to the officer firing at the suspect, who then advanced towards the officer. A third individual with a handgun also became involved in the situation. Investigations into these three incidents are currently ongoing.
The collaboration between the Farrell Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police underscores the joint effort to address the recent surge in gun violence in the area. The community remains on edge as law enforcement agencies work diligently to apprehend those responsible for these tragic events and prevent further violence from occurring.