On a summer afternoon in Export, Pennsylvania, a dispute over a parking spot escalated into a fatal encounter for 65-year-old Daniel Chicka. The male victim was visiting his girlfriend on Madison Avenue on June 18, 2024, when an ongoing argument with a neighbor, Matthew Miller, turned violent. Chicka, a retired coal miner and father, was known by the nickname 'Slim' and had a passion for motorcycles and remote-controlled airplanes.
The argument between Chicka and Miller, who had recently
moved into the neighborhood and was reportedly territorial about the parking space, was captured on video. The footage shows a verbal altercation that quickly intensified. According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office, the video shows Chicka drawing a firearm and pointing it in Miller's direction. In response, Miller fired several rounds from his own gun, striking and killing Chicka at the scene.
Following an extensive investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, the evidence was reviewed by a team of prosecutors. The District Attorney's Office announced on January 2, 2025, that no criminal charges would be pursued against Matthew Miller in the shooting death of Daniel Chicka. The decision was based on the legal right of individuals to protect themselves from imminent serious bodily injury, with District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli stating that the resolution of the case was based on the facts and the law. While Miller was not charged in Chicka's death, he is facing pending narcotics-related offenses.
