Shooting outside Monaca Walmart sends one person to hospital
MONACA, Pa. (KDKA) - Gunfire outside of a Walmart in Beaver County sent one person to the hospital, while another person was taken into custody.
Police responded to a shooting situation near the Walmart on Brodhead Road in Monaca, Beaver County 911 dispatchers confirmed Sunday evening.
Dispatch also confirmed there was one injury on the scene, with the victim being taken by medical helicopter to the hospital.
KDKA's Shelley Bortz was on the scene and spoke with the police commander who said they do have a suspect in custody as of 8:25 p.m. Sunday.
"Our officers were dispatched to a report of an individual who was shot," he said.
Center Township police were first called to the Walmart shopping plaza around 6:30 p.m.
Once there, officers found a 20-year-old man on the ground with a gunshot wound. A perimeter was quickly set up and Walmart was put on lockdown.
"The officers were able to chase the individual and apprehend him, in custody in an adjacent neighborhood," said Capt. John Hall, of the Center Township Police Department.
While this unfolded outside the Walmart, tense moments played out inside the store.
Tricia Rudek was checking out when an employee notified shoppers of the shooting and told them they weren't allowed to leave.
"I was so freaked out and so relieved my children weren't with me," Rudek said.
Rudek says she quickly called her husband to let him know what was going on then retreated to the back of the store and ducked into an aisle.
After 10 minutes, she said they were told it was safe to go outside. Once outside, she said she saw the victim on the ground, and her instincts as a nurse kicked in.
"I'm a nurse, so I wanted to see if I could make myself useful but didn't want to get in trouble, so I was kind of observing," Rudek said.
Police said they haven't recovered the gun and were seen searching the hillside with flashlights and police dogs.
On Monday, the criminal complaint was released, detailing more information on the shooting.
Police identified the suspect as Yeshua Kawshawn Bratcher. Bratcher was taken into custody and transported to the Center Township Police station. He was found covered in leaves, debris, and sustained cuts as he tried to evade police.
The shooting victim was identified as Rashaun Jiovanni Smith. Security video later showed Bratcher and Smith getting into an altercation, which led to Bratcher shooting Smith.
Smith was flown to Presbyterian Hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound.
