HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County prosecutors said Wednesday that they will seek the death penalty for an ex-soldier from the Johnstown area who allegedly shot and killed two people during a robbery April 6 in Altoona.
Nicholas Horner, 28, is being held without bail in Blair County Prison on first-degree murder charges in the slayings of Scott Garlick, 19, a worker at the Subway shop where the shootings began, and Raymond Williams, 64, a retired insurance agent from Northern Cambria Borough who more recently had been living in Altoona.
Horner also is charged with aggravated assault and related offenses for wounding Michelle Petty, another employee at the Subway shop.
Horner’s family has said that the defendant – who did two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Kuwait between 2002 and 2007 while in the Army – suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Horner reportedly told authorities afterward that he could not recall what had happened.
He was undergoing treatment for the disorder at the Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona.
A formal notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Horner was filed at the Blair County Courthouse by Wade Kagarise and Jackie Bernard, chief deputy district attorneys.
The notice lists aggravating factors that a jury could find in voting for a death sentence in the murders.
The factors were listed as:
n A murder occurring at the time of another murder.
n The murder occurred in the perpetration of a felony crime, a reference to the robbery.
In addition, in the Garlick killing, the additional factor listed is: The defendant created a grave risk for death to another person.
Neither Kagarise nor Bernard could be reached for comment.
Horner is scheduled for formal court arraignment at the courthouse July 31.
Garlick, a senior at Hollidaysburg Area High School, was fatally wounded when he responded to knocking at the rear door of the 58th Street Subway in Altoona, police allege. Petty testified at Horner’s preliminary hearing that she was shot after Horner entered the business.
Horner allegedly ordered another employee to put money in a bag before running into a wooded area. He ended up on Maryland Avenue, where police say he shot and killed Williams, who was checking his mail outside his apartment complex. The apartment complex is just outside Altoona in Logan Township.
The suspect, who had a Subway bag of money stuffed in his pocket, was apprehended as he was running through the parking lot at the apartment complex.
Horner has no criminal record, although he was arrested March 9 – about a month before the murders – by Cresson Township police on a charge of drunken driving. In recent months before the shootings, he had moved to Altoona.
Attorney David Shrager of Pittsburgh, who represents Horner, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Democrat File Photo
Discussion
Death penalty sought
- Local News
-
-
Lawsuit: Bedford County shooting not 'justified'
The widow of a man who a prosecutor determined committed “suicide by cop” by pointing a weapon at state police during a standoff is suing, claiming the shooting was not justified.
-
Book honors Flight 93 co-pilot Homer
The widow of Flight 93 copilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. is releasing a book this month on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Blogging with heart
Although it was probably high school English classes that propelled by career, I always liked science and history – with some notable, teacher-personality-or-competence-related exceptions.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Lawsuit: Bedford County shooting not 'justified'
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
