Suspect finally surrenders after long standoff in Monongahela

Emmanuel Houghton, 19, is also a suspect in multiple crimes in Allegheny County, officials said.

By SARAH PELLIS and LADIMIR GARCIA

spellis@yourmvi.com lgarcia@yourmvi.com

A 19-year-old Carnegie man surrendered to police peacefully Wednesday following a nearly all-day ordeal that began with an early-morning, high-speed chase and then to an hours-long SWAT standoff in Monongahela.

Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said Emmanuel “Mannie” Houghton was taken into custody without incident and led into a police cruiser 7:30 p.m. following the standoff. Houghton is allegedly a suspect in a homicide case and for stealing a car in Monongahela.

Amid a crowd of spectators, the second standoff took place at a residence at Third and Chess streets, where Houghton barricaded himself inside. During the standoff, Houghton took to social media to record himself on Facebook Live. At several times during the video, Houghton asked to speak to his mother, and what his charges were. More than 3,000 people watched Houghton during the live video.

No officers or residents were injured during the investigation and standoff, according to Walsh.

“They did a fantastic job. I want to thank the SWAT team, I want to thank the North Strabane police, my county detectives, Monongahela police, Charleroi police, Donora police, and all the police that converged on the area,” Walsh said. “Pennsylvania State Police all did a fantastic job in making sure that there was nobody injured today, and there were no other casualties in such a dangerous situation.”

Walsh said police were pursuing reports of stolen vehicles, which led to the initial investigation and car chase. They found one of the stolen vehicles with Houghton inside, who led police on a chase around 9 a.m. into Allegheny County and back to Monongahela.

Investigators said he fired four rounds at officers in pursuit, then fled into a home on Marne Avenue in Monongahela Wednesday morning.

During the first standoff, the SWAT team was present at the scene until 12:30 p.m. and left after finding no one at the residence. State and local police remained at the scene – waiting in the area in hopes to find the suspect in the home or another building.

After several minutes, authorities still at the scene shifted to different buildings after receiving reports someone was seen walking to a funeral home next door. Officers searched and waited with firearms and other equipment outside different buildings until 1:30, but left after finding no suspects.

According to state police public information Officer Rocco Gagliardi, no suspects were arrested during the first standoff, but one of the stolen vehicles was found and towed away by authorities.

“As of my last update, we assisted in the section we needed to and this will now fall back upon the local and original department. So all updates will be coming from them,” Gagliardi said.

Jason Malek of Monongahela who was at the scene Wednesday morning, is the owner of the stolen cars.

“I came out at 6:20 in the morning, both my cars were gone, both were gone,” Malek said. “And my buddy Tommy actually does a lot of scrapping, so he told me that he saw two sets of teenagers out by the park, which is close to my house, around like 11 o’clock at night.”

He also added that he had several of his family’s belongings in the vehicle that was stolen. Some of the belongings included a purse with a license and credit cards and fishing gear.

Malek said he had a tracker on one of his cars and found out it was located in West Mifflin at 5 a.m.

“All I heard was my mother- in-law told me that they’re chasing an Acura going 90 miles-an-hour. Other than that, I didn’t know squat,” Malek said. “That’s why I walked up here, because I’ve seen all the people, and I’m like, ‘I might as well walk up and ask somebody if they know anything about the situation’ and this is the first I’m hearing about it.”

Abby Kachur of Monongahela said she thought Houghton was driving in front of her house on Vine Street around 5 a.m. Wednesday, and caught the car on video. She also believes Houghton kept other people in the building.

“I have cameras everywhere. Somebody broke into my friend’s car right next to it. They should just give themselves up. People keep saying he has people locked up. If it’s the person that robbed the store (in Monessen) or stole these cars, come on. Just give yourself up. That’s how I feel. It’s not worth getting shot.”

Allegedly, there was a call from a neighbor after authorities left the scene that prompted police and SWAT to return to the area once again. The SWAT team returned to the area about 4 p.m.

The standoff then lasted several more hours, with Houghton’s mother joining SWAT personnel on the street, pleading with him to turn himself in.

“Just please, come outside,” his mother said.

Walsh said Houghton was believed to be wielding loaded weapons during the standoff.

Houghton also showed off his gun in the Facebook Live post on an account named “Charles Lee Ray, who is the main antagonist and serial killer of the Child’s Play horror franchise “Chucky.”

Neighbors were also live streaming the stand off.

Alex Belluso, 14, of Monongahela took a video of the incident as he caught on video Houghton peeking his head out a window.

“It could have been way better for him if he would have just pulled over instead of shooting at him,” Belluso said. “It could have been 18 months and now he just made it worse. It’s normally quiet. This stuff doesn’t usually happen.”

Noah Sefchick, 15, of New Eagle, agreed with Belluso, saying the situation was “crazy.”

Vicki Charlton of Monongahela, and her son RJ, were at the scene since 9 a.m. Wednesday until the end of the standoff. RJ said Houghton looks familiar.

“We’ve seen them all come and we’ve seen them all go and then we have seen them come back again,” Vicki Charlton said. “They are wrong choices. I am wondering, mentally, if this could be avoided. It is totally scary to have it happen so close to home. We’ve lived here 30 or so years and there was an incident a few years ago further downtown. It was nothing like this. To put all these people’s lives in danger and scarring children. I hope he makes the smart choice.”

“I think he’s crazy for doing this,” RJ added. “I am like why are you doing this. Why would you lead the cops on a chase – endangering everyone.”

Officers shot pepper balls and tear gas inside the top level of the house where he was hiding out, and at one point, Houghton peaked his head out the window. SWAT members used a battering ram on the front and side doors of the outside of the building.

At 7:30 p.m., Houghton surrendered as neighbors watched him walk out of the residence escorted by police, and SWAT team members fist bumped each other.

“They did everything that they are trained to do and they did it well,” Walsh said. “There were no casualties and nobody injured, and he is in custody with no collateral damage. They were doing everything in their power to surrender peacefully. Again, they are professionals and they are the ones that put their lives on the line. That is what they are trained to do. They did an excellent job.”

Walsh did not say whether or not Houghton lived at the residence or if there were other people in the home.

The next phase of investigation will be obtaining a search warrant for Houghton’s weapons and his belongings, according to Walsh.

Houghton was taken to the Monongahela Police Department after the incident. Walsh said Houghton will be moved to another facility after communicating with Allegheny County. As of press time, Houghton had not been arraigned on any charges.