19-year-old fatally shot in Connoquenessing
CONNOQUENESSING — An argument is believed to be the reason a borough man apparently fatally shot his grandson at their Sunset Drive home late Friday afternoon, according to state police.
Austin Riddell, 19, was pronounced dead at the 113 Sunset Dr. house he shared with alleged shooter Larry Karnes, 76.
Karnes is charged with criminal homicide after he allegedly shot Riddell in the chest with a .22-calber rifle during an argument at 4:41 p.m.
Riddell’s body was discovered in the living room of the home.
Butler County Coroner William Young III and Allegheny County forensic pathologist Todd Luckasevic did an autopsy on Riddell Friday night, but no official ruling has been made regarding cause of death, pending the results of toxicology and other tests.
According to police, an unidentified man and woman were in the home at the time of the shooting and were interviewed Friday night.
A public information release did not specify who called 911 about the shooting.
Karnes was arraigned by Butler County Judge Kevin O’Donnell and is in Butler County Prison without bond. He has no previous criminal record in Butler County, according to online court records.
Riddell had a history of minor criminal offenses beginning shortly after his 18th birthday.
