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Friday, May 24, 2013 | 12:33 a.m.

Posted: 11:38 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2012

One man charged in police-involved shooting in Johnstown

By Melanie Gillespie

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. —

Charges have been filed against one man who police said fired the first shot wounding another man.

Police released the names of those involved and finalized the chain of events Tuesday afternoon that eventually forced officers to open fire themselves.

Police said the two cars that were involved Monday morning are connected to a shooting at Edders Den just moments before police ordered them to stop.

Midnight Monday morning: A sergeant with the Johnstown Police Department reportedly told investigators he heard a gunshot as he approached Edders Den in the Oakhurst section of the city.

Police said that shot he heard was fired by Shy-Tyquon Lawton. 

The complaint said Lawton confronted Cardell Clinton of Johnstown in front of Edders Den.

Police said when Lawton thought Clinton was reaching for a gun, he fired a shot at Clinton's left hip with a small caliber handgun.

When the sergeant approached the bar, investigators said Lawton got into the first car he saw in the parking lot which was driven by Latoya Just.

"Another Johnstown Police Department unit approached this pursuit from the forward direction. The fleeing vehicle then voluntarily stopped," Trooper John Matchik said.

Police said Lawton dropped the gun he fired just moments earlier and fled on foot towards the Garfield School. He was arrested a short time later. 

Police had that section of Sheridan Street blocked off before they said a second car driven by Elip Cheatham of Johnstown accelerated towards police. 

"Officers, at that time, engaged this vehicle opening fire on the vehicle after it failed to stop or yield to officer commands," Matchik explained.

Investigators said Cheatham died not two hours later at Memorial Medical Center. Cambria County Chief Deputy Coroner, Jeff Lees, said toxicology results came back late Tuesday afternoon. Cheatham had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death. 

The other two passengers were Hayward Gaines and Cardell Clinton.

Gaines was treated and released from the hospital.

Police said Clinton suffered from at least one gunshot wound allegedly fired by Lawton prior to the police-involved shooting on Cheatham's car.

He is listed as in fair condition. 

Lawton is facing multiple felonies and assault charges.

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