Footage of Tarpley murder shown at preliminary hearings
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The last moments of Nicholas Tarpley’s life were so calm and typical, they were at odds with how it ended.
In joint preliminary hearings held Monday for Devell Christian, 31, of White Oak and Sidney McLean, 32, of McKeesport, in Washington County’s Central Court, surveillance footage was played from Tarpley’s murder.
First Assistant District Attorney Jason Walsh showed the video from inside Anna Lee’s Convenience Store in Donora Feb. 24.
Tarpley, 28, is seen working behind the deli counter, moving about the space preparing a sandwich.
As the video played, state police Trooper Adam Janosko testified that while Tarpley was making the sandwich, a clerk was working in another area of the store and one patron was also present.
After a minute, Tarpley is near the bottom of the screen, facing off camera, when two men enter the store. One is wearing a red hat and one is in all black — both wearing black facemasks.
The man in a red hat comes to the deli counter directly behind Tarpley and it appears he fires several shots into Tarpley’s back before the victim has a chance to turn.
The man in all black comes to a counter to Tarpley’s left and as the victim spins around, it appears he is struck several more times by shots from that man.
Both shooters run from the counter and out of the store as Tarpley staggers a bit, clutching his torso before falling. Tarpley lies on the ground, with his arms around his torso and a shocked expression on his face as the clerk runs toward him, calling for help as the video ends.
Walsh said after the hearing Tarpley was not the target of the men who shot him. Walsh said Tarpley was in the wrong place at the wrong time and had nothing to do with the circumstances that led to the shooting.
According to Janosko’s testimony Monday, the shooters were identified as McLean in the red hat and Christian in all black.
Both men are charged with homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited to own a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license.
Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson held both men for trial on all charges after a more-than-90-minute preliminary hearing that was contentious between both the prosecution and defense, and a witness and the attorneys.
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco testified Tarpley died of six gunshot wounds to his trunk.
To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.
