Man accused in Thursday night shootings in Isabella surrenders to police after brief standoff
Following a day-long manhunt and a brief standoff, the 32-year-old Markleysburg man who allegedly shot his uncle in Isabella and attempted to shoot three others in two separate shootings Thursday night is in custody.
A state police bomb squad was called to 5115 National Pike (Route 40) in Markleysburg, where Frank 鈥淭im-Tim鈥� Campbell Jr. surrendered after several minutes of communication with police Friday. Officials did not immediately specify why the bomb squad was called. A portion of the road was closed while police secured the area. They cleared the scene at about 5 p.m.
Campbell allegedly shot John 鈥淛ohnny鈥� Solomon Campbell, 50, in the left shoulder with a 12-gauge shotgun at about 8 p.m. on 1st Street and fled in a red Ford Focus. He was spotted by German Township police at about 10:30 p.m. and fled, according to state police Tpr. Robert Schmid.
The victim was flown by medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he was in critical condition Thursday night, police said.
Before the first shooting, Campbell Jr. allegedly assaulted another relative at a home in Luzerne Township. He also reportedly shot at Carol Ann Blanc and Scott 鈥淪cotty鈥� Blanc, the victim鈥檚 girlfriend and son, who were at the 1st Street home during the shooting. Blanc was hit with broken glass. He then allegedly drove to a second home where another uncle lives and fired a shot at him, missing the man.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case, John Campbell had just gotten off the phone with his younger brother, who called to tell him Campbell Jr. choked his father and punched him in the face.
鈥淚 am going to have to tell that boy that he shouldn鈥檛 have done that,鈥� John Campbell was quoted as saying in court paperwork just before the shooting, according to information Scott Blanc gave state police. 鈥淥h look, here comes Tim-Tim now!鈥�
鈥淏oy, what is going on?鈥� John Campbell reportedly said to Campbell Jr., just before the younger man allegedly fired three shots at him.
He ran into the house from the back yard, shouting to lock the doors. Campbell Jr. reportedly drove around to the front of the house, aiming the shotgun out the window at the Blancs.
Carol Blanc told police she yelled out the front door at Campbell Jr., saying, 鈥淭immy, what are you doing? You just shot your uncle! What are you doing, Hun?鈥�
He reportedly fired shots at the house shattering glass in a door which hit Carol Blanc in the back of the head, according to the affidavit.
鈥淐. Blanc related what scared her was when she popped her head out the front door. The defendant had evil in his eyes and his expression, and said that she was so scared. She saw him backing up and he was looking at her,鈥� the affidavit said.
She told police she 鈥渉as never known him to do anything like this,鈥� the affidavit said.
More than a dozen witnesses identified the suspect, Schmid said.
On the scene Thursday night, neighbor Bill Smith said he ran down the hill from his yard and found his friend lying in a pool of blood. He said he propped up Campbell鈥檚 feet to help his blood flow and took off his shoes.
鈥淚t was dramatic,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was a trail of blood on the sidewalk and blood all over the door. The blood was in the kitchen and in the hall.鈥�
It appeared he had attempted to make his way up the stairs.
He described the scene as 鈥渟omething you see on TV.鈥�
The two neighbors are good friends, Smith said.
鈥淲e were always together. Yeah, I know him well,鈥� he said.
He was shocked to learn the suspected shooter was the victim鈥檚 nephew, saying the two seemed close. The two cleaned and remodeled the previously condemned 1st Street home, beginning the day the uncle bought the property about one year ago. He recently completed stone work inside the house. His next project was the exterior.
鈥淗e was going to stone the front, but now,鈥� he inhaled sharply and trailed off. 鈥淚 just don鈥檛 understand.鈥�
He described him as a good man, recalling many evenings they brought food to each other, and sharing chicken on a night when Campbell made noodles.
鈥淚鈥檓 always over here, or he鈥檚 always over there,鈥� he said, motioning to his house. 鈥淚 mean, I could have been sitting on that porch with him.鈥�
鈥淭his stuff doesn鈥檛 happen in Isabella,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his stuff should never happen.鈥�
Campbell is charged with three counts each of attempted homicide and recklessly endangering another person and one count each of aggravated assault and simple assault. He was arraigned Friday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Nathan A. Henning, who set bail at $250,000.
Randy Wilson, who lives next door the home where Campbell surrendered, witnessed the exchange between the suspect and police. He said the suspect appeared hesitant to surrender.
鈥淚t got real,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 strange to see something like that.鈥�
Charges were filed Friday before Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino Jr. Campbell remains in Fayette County Prison in lieu of bond.