On an autumn evening in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, a long-simmering dispute over hunting grounds culminated in the shooting death of 52-year-old Robert 'Bob' Cy Wingard. The incident, which occurred on October 28, 2022, in Scrubgrass Township, led to the arrest of David C. Heathcote, also 52, who was subsequently charged with criminal homicide. Wingard, a White male from Parker, was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the face.
The fatal encounter unfolded in the 700 block
of Big Bend Road, where Heathcote resided. According to Pennsylvania State Police, the two men had been engaged in a heated argument related to hunting. Heathcote himself contacted the authorities, admitting to the shooting. He claimed that during the confrontation, Wingard had threatened his daughter, prompting him to fire his weapon.
An investigation revealed a history of disputes between the two men concerning hunting. On the evening of the shooting, Heathcote had been hunting for migratory birds with a 20-gauge shotgun. He told police that as he was returning home, Wingard yelled at him from the road, accusing him of ruining his hunt. This escalated into a verbal altercation in Heathcote's driveway. The argument reportedly intensified when Heathcote accused Wingard of placing a trail camera facing his autistic daughter's hunting spot.
Heathcote claimed he shot Wingard in self-defense, alleging Wingard made a threatening move. However, police found no firearm in Wingard's vehicle. The weapon used in the shooting, a double-barrel shotgun with two spent shells, was recovered from Heathcote's vehicle. Following his arrest, Heathcote was held without bond at the Venango County Prison. A preliminary hearing was held, and the homicide case was bound for court.
Robert Wingard was a 1989 graduate of Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District and a veteran of the United States Army. He had been employed as a construction technician at Iron Mountain for 30 years. His obituary described him as a loving father to his two children, Baylie and Easton, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trips with his family and friends.
