Timothy Obrien Smith

Mass Murderer

Timothy O'Brien Smith and the 2018 Melcroft Car Wash Massacre

Background

Timothy O'Brien Smith was a 28-year-old Army veteran who carried out a carefully armed mass shooting at a rural car wash in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 2018. The attack occurred at Ed's Car Wash, located along Indian Creek Valley Road in the small community of Melcroft in Saltlick Township, approximately 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Smith killed four people during the early-morning attack: William Scott Porterfield, Chelsie Lou Cline, Seth William Cline, and Courtney Sue Snyder. A fifth intended victim survived after taking cover inside a vehicle. Smith was found at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head and died later that day. Authorities ultimately ruled his death a suicide.

Events Before the Shooting

During the evening of January 27 and the early hours of January 28, 2018, the four victims and the surviving woman spent time at the Tall Cedars bar in Donegal, Pennsylvania. After leaving the establishment, the group traveled to Ed's Car Wash in nearby Melcroft. Investigators believed Smith knew where the group was going and arrived at the car wash before them. Evidence from the scene suggested that he had prepared for a violent confrontation rather than encountering the victims by chance. He wore what initially appeared to be body armor, although investigators later reported that the vest was only a bulletproof-vest shell and did not contain protective ballistic panels. Smith brought three firearms to the location: an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, a 9mm handgun, and a .308-caliber rifle. Authorities said the victims were killed with the AR-15-style rifle and the handgun. The number of weapons, the vest, and Smith's positioning at the car wash led investigators to describe the shooting as an apparent ambush.

The Car Wash Attack

Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2018, the victims arrived at Ed's Car Wash. Smith opened fire as members of the group were in or near their vehicles. Two victims were found inside a pickup truck, while two others were discovered in the parking area. William Scott Porterfield, Chelsie Lou Cline, Seth William Cline, and Courtney Sue Snyder were all struck and killed. The concentrated gunfire left the victims with little opportunity to escape from the isolated car wash. A woman in her early twenties survived the shooting by hiding inside a pickup truck. Bullets struck the vehicle, and breaking glass caused her minor injuries, but she avoided being directly shot. She later cooperated with investigators. Her survival provided authorities with an important witness to the events at the car wash. Police and emergency personnel responded to the scene after reports of gunfire. Three vehicles were removed from the property during the investigation, including two pickup trucks and a sedan. The location was secured as Pennsylvania State Police and Fayette County authorities documented the victims' positions, the weapons, spent ammunition, and other evidence. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Chelsie Lou Cline 25 yr old Female

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