Watch CBS News

Washington County shooting suspect claims self-defense

A 20-year-old man turned himself in to the Canonsburg Police Department on Monday after being accused of shooting and killing a 25-year-old man over the weekend. 

Kristopher Moorehouse, 20, was escorted by police to his arraignment on Monday afternoon. He is accused of shooting and killing 25-year-old Brady Paul on Saturday night. 

"It was self-defense. I did not mean to kill him, Brady Paul. It was self-defense. He was attacking me and threatening to rape my girl," Moorehouse said while heading into his arraignment.

Court papers said Moorehouse, Paul and several others were at a house on Giffin Avenue on Saturday night. Police were called to the street around 11:40 p.m. and found Paul on the porch of a home. Officers found a chair with blood on the headrest and seat. They learned Paul was in the seat at the time of the shooting. Investigators would not elaborate on how the two knew each other.

"What's important is the individual who we are alleging committed this crime has been apprehended, and there is no further threat to the borough or the borough's residents," Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said.

Investigators said through interviews they learned that Paul, Moorehouse, and several other people were in the home playing video games, smoking marijuana, and drinking before the shooting. At some point, a woman and Moorehouse went to another room, and Paul allegedly Facebook messaged them requesting to "join them intimately," according to court papers.

Moorehouse is accused of grabbing a gun and saying he was going to shoot Paul, who was asked to leave the house. According to court papers, Paul left and returned a short time later. Police said that is when Moorehouse allegedly shot Paul. Officers said Moorehouse ran from the house and drove toward Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Several agencies were part of the investigation, including Pennsylvania State Police, Canonsburg police, and the district attorney's office.

"Our average size police departments are 20 officers, 18 officers, so you have to pull resources from numerous different departments," Canonsburg Police Chief Alexander Coghill said about the agencies working together.

Moorehouse was denied bond at his hearing on Monday. He faces several charges, including homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. He is in the Washington County Jail.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue