Erie Times-News | By Gerry Weiss
Police are continuing to investigate the death of a 42-year-old man who was shot in the head on Erie's west side Saturday morning -- the second shooting death in the city in just days.
The man, whose name was not released as of late Saturday, was found sitting in the driver's seat of a minivan at about 9 a.m. at West 19th and Myrtle streets. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:10 a.m., Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said.
An autopsy conducted Saturday determined the man died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, said Cook, who ruled the death a homicide.
The engine of the van was still running when police arrived, Erie County Deputy Coroner Dennis Suscheck said. The victim was found alone in the van.
Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin said the man was shot three times in the head but there were no other injuries.
"We do not know if somebody shot the victim while (the suspect) was sitting in the van or if someone approached the van and shot,'' Franklin said Saturday night.
Franklin said the driver's-side window of the van was shot out.
Two bullet casings were found at the scene, Suscheck said.
Police were still investigating the shooting as of late Saturday.
"Our detectives are trying to retrace the victim's footsteps -- where he was coming from, where he was going and who spoke with him last,'' Franklin said.
A person was seen running from the scene of the shooting, he said.
"We're working with that witness to attempt to come up with some type of description and identify the individual,'' Franklin said.
The victim's name was not released Saturday pending notification of his family, Franklin said.
Erie police detectives also spent Saturday continuing their search for suspects in the shooting death of Michael Henry, 31, who was shot twice inside his apartment at 415 E. 18th St. late Thursday night.
No one had been charged in that killing as of late Saturday.
"We're still working it, but I doubt we'll have any arrests today," Franklin said Saturday about the Henry investigation.
Saturday's shooting marked Erie's fourth homicide in six weeks.
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