A Vandergrift man is facing homicide charges after state police say he shot four people — killing one — outside a bar in Parks Township early Sunday morning.
David James Dunmire, 36, is charged with one count of homicide, three counts of attempted homicide as well as aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
The shooting began after an altercation in the parking lot outside of Niki’s Quick Six just across the Kiski River from Vandergrift around 1 a.m., according to a criminal complaint filed against Dunmire.
The complaint said Dunmire arrived at the bar with his fiancee, who got into a verbal altercation with another woman in the parking lot. The woman then went into the bar and told patrons she had been “jumped,” causing several people to leave the bar for the parking lot, the complaint said.
A physical altercation began, which prompted more bystanders to intervene, according to the complaint.
Among the bystanders who attempted to intervene were Hector Saballos, Dominik Dellach, Jessica Hilliard and bartender Rebecca Boston, according to police.
As the altercation ended, Dunmire pulled out a 9 mm handgun, police said.
He shot Boston, and then wounded Saballos and Dellach as they ran away, the complaint said.
Dunmire then returned to where the altercation began and shot Hilliard multiple times in the chest, according to the complaint.
Hilliard, 34, of Apollo died at the scene.
Boston, 24, remains in critical condition, while Saballos, 34, and Dellach, 25, were listed in stable condition, police said.
Police arrested Dunmire, who stayed at the scene, without incident, they said. He fired a total of seven shots, according to police.
Nelson Lubik, who lives across the street from Niki’s, woke up to use the bathroom around 1 a.m. before he heard six to eight shots in rapid succession from the direction of the bar, he said.
Lubik, 78, said he called 911 and saw several people and cars scatter from the scene. He said he could see Hilliard on the ground near an exit to the bar.
It’s not uncommon for things to get rowdy at Niki’s, he said.
Lubik said the bar is often loud and that he has seen fights take place there over the years.
“There’s always been an issue here,” he said. “I’ve been saying, sooner or later someone’s going to get shot.”
At this point, Lubik would like to see the bar shut down, but he said he’s not holding his breath for change.
Parks Township Police Chief Francis Willison said none of his officers were present at the scene, and state police were handling the investigation.
His department is not currently investigating Niki’s as a nuisance bar, he said.
The township does not have 24/7 local police coverage, and state police respond to calls there when no Parks Township officers are available.
State police did not respond to TribLive inquiries about the status of the other victims and whether it may be investigating Niki’s.
Niki’s, which also serves food, opened in the early 2010s. Before that, the site had been a gas station.
The space was dark and doors were locked early Monday afternoon.
Owner Niki Hosack, reached at the Spring Church location of her bar, declined a TribLive request for comment.
Justin J. Ketchel, Dunmire’s defense attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An online fundraiser to support Hilliard’s family and funeral expenses had raised more than $12,500 of its $15,000 goal by Monday afternoon.
Krick’s Tavern in Trafford, where Hilliard worked as a bartender, also announced on social media that it would organize a fundraiser and donate 100% of sales of the first 400 bottles of Yuengling sold.