An 18-year-old from Bentleyville is facing homicide charges after a late-night shooting left a 21-year-old man dead inside a Washington County home.
The incident unfolded just before 11:15 p.m. Sunday, when Washington County dispatchers received reports of a shooting at a residence on Walnut Street in Ellsworth Borough.
Pennsylvania State Police said troopers arrived to find 21-year-old Elijah Johnson, of Carnegie, suffering from gunshot wounds inside the home. Despite immediate life-saving efforts from first responders, Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation, authorities identified Christopher Harper, 18, of Bentleyville, as the suspected shooter. Troopers said Harper and Johnson were acquaintances, and the deadly altercation stemmed from a dispute over a woman.
“Early investigation shows Harper going into that residence, locating the female in the middle of the mixture with our victim, and then the dispute continues, which leads right to the shooting,” said State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi.
Harper was later tracked down and arrested in New Castle. He is facing a list of serious charges, including criminal homicide, burglary, recklessly endangering another person, and firearms violations.
Harper, a native of Bentleyville, was known locally as a student-athlete at Bentworth High School, where he played wide receiver and defensive back on the varsity football team and also competed in basketball. He was on track to graduate with the Class of 2026.
The victim, 21-year-old Elijah Johnson, of Carnegie
The shooting has sent shockwaves through both Ellsworth and Bentleyville, where friends and classmates of Harper are struggling to process how a promising young athlete is now facing life-altering criminal charges.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s family is left grieving the loss of their 21-year-old loved one, whose life was cut short in what investigators describe as a senseless argument that escalated into deadly violence.
The case remains under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.