Fayette County district closed following shooting
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The state court system has moved cases out of a Fayette County district court where a shooting spree ended Wednesday with the gunman shot dead by police.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said Thursday that District Judge Daniel Shimshock’s office in Masontown will remain closed until further notice. In the meantime, cases assigned there would be heard at two other locations.
Patrick S. Dowdell, 61, of Masontown pursued his wife into the packed office and fired bullets that injured four people, including a police officer who was wounded in the hand, before was killed by another officer.
All other district courts are open.
The AOPC said while Shimshock’s office is closed, cases from German, Nicholson and Springhill townships, plus Point Marion and Masontown, will be reassigned to District Judge Mike Defino Jr. in Redstone Township.
Cases out of Georges Township, Fairchance and Smithfield will be heard by District Judge Jennifer Jeffries in South Union Township.