man shot, house set on fire
Unidentified people and police stand in the yard outside the Canton Township home of 57-year-old Scott Taneyhill, who was found shot to death early Monday.
Police cars are shown at the site of a homicide early Monday on Skylark Drive in Canton Township. Scott Taneyhill, 57, was shot multiple times.
State police Trooper Stefani Lucas briefs the media about a fatal shooting in Canton Township early Monday morning.
A Canton Township man was shot to death early Monday outside his home on Skylark Drive, and whoever killed him set fire to the house.
State police said Scott Taneyhill, 57, was shot multiple times. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, who ruled the death a homicide, said Taneyhill’s body was found outside, near a basement door. Warco said the fire appeared to have been set near that door.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots shortly after 6 a.m., and smoke was seen coming from the house at 65 Skylark, which is on a private lane with about seven houses off Malone Ridge Road.
Trooper Stefani Lucas, public information officer for Troop B, said Taneyhill’s daughter and her boyfriend were asleep inside when the shooting occurred. His wife and granddaughter had left the home about 30 minutes before the incident.
“I believe his wife left for work and took the girl to daycare or school,” Lucas said. “As far as we know, no one else was in the house.”
The trooper was not sure if the girl, who neighbors said is 9, lived with her grandparents or just spent the night. One neighbor said the girl’s father had checked on his daughter’s welfare, learning that she was in school Monday.
State police do not have any suspects, but Lucas said she does not believe neighbors need to be concerned for their safety.
“I don’t believe there is anyone armed and dangerous (in the vicinity),” Lucas said.
Multiple shell casings and bullet holes were found, she said, but no weapon was recovered.
“We are still in the process of trying to piece things together,” Lucas added, saying that investigators were obtaining search warrants for the property.
The wooded area around the house was searched, but nothing was found, Lucas said. North Strabane Township police Sgt. Matthew Mancini and his K-9, Drago, responded to the scene. Officers from Chartiers and South Strabane townships, Washington and East Washington also assisted.
Several neighbors heard gunfire Monday morning.
“Early this morning I heard multiple gunshots,” said Brian Kengor, who lives near the Taneyhill home. “At first, I thought someone was shooting at a coyote.”
Trinity North Elementary School was locked down briefly Monday morning as a precaution, Lucas added. The district sent email alerts to parents. The school is over the hill, about a half-mile from the shooting scene.
Canton Township Assistant Fire Chief Chuck LaBella said crews found evidence of a small fire in the house that had burned out before they arrived. They vented smoke from the house so police could conduct a search. A fire marshal was investigating at the home.