Washington County man charged with drug crimes after fatal home invasion

CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A resident of a home in Washington County where an intruder was fatally shot Friday evening has been charged with drug crimes, authorities said.

David William Murray, 53, was charged on Saturday with a felony county of manufacture delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver drugs. Murray was also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

The home invasion and shooting were reported just after 6 p.m. on Adams Street in Cecil Township, where police said a person who had broken into the house was shot and killed by a person who lives there.

It is not clear if Murray is accused of being involved in the shooting, but officials said he lives at the home where the incident took place.

The victim was identified at Nathaniel Kevin Gardner, 52, of Washington, Pennsylvania. The Washington County coroner ruled Gardner's death a homicide and said "he was shot by the homeowner during a home invasion."

A neighbor called 911 after he heard the gunshots on Friday.

“We have a gun club that's right over here and I thought it was the gun club or something maybe, but next thing I know, I hear people screaming and hollering and a whole bunch of commotion down over the hill. So I went and took a look and all of the sudden, there was just cops everywhere,” Chris Gardner said.

The Cecil Township Police Department is continuing its investigation.

Cox Media Group