Todd Hampson spent the last few weeks staying after class at WyoTech Automotive Technology School in Indiana County to fine-tune several projects.
"He was just weeks away from graduating from here on Dec. 21. He was always very dedicated, a very hard worker," said Art Herman, vice president of the WyoTech campus near Blairsville.
That Hampson, 20, of Canandaigua, N.Y., was held in such high regard by faculty and students alike helped create what Herman called a "somber" atmosphere there Monday after news broke that Hampson had died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown.
According to police, Hampson was shot early Saturday by fellow WyoTech student Robert Ellsworth Beatty III, 22, of 185 Susan Drive in Burrell Township, who allegedly fired a round from a ".38 special" handgun from the door of his off-campus residence and through the driver's side window of Hampson's blue Dodge Ram truck.
An autopsy Monday by Cambria County Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski established that Hampson died of a gunshot wound to the head.
"We deeply regret the passing of Todd, and we are thinking so much of his family right now," Herman said.
Police on Monday upgraded charges originally filed Saturday against Beatty at the office of District Judge Guy Haberl of Indiana of one count of homicide, along with one count of criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment.
Indiana state police Trooper Gerhard Goodyear reported in court papers that police responded at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday to reports of a possible shooting victim at Valley Dairy about one mile west of Route 119 in Burrell Township.
Upon arriving there, Goodyear said he observed Hampson being cared for by emergency medical service personnel.
Goodyear said he interviewed fellow WyoTech student Eric Walker, no age or address given, who rode to the scene in Hampson's vehicle. Walker said he and Hampson had decided to throw bricks through the window of the residence of fellow WyoTech student Jesus Garcia, no age, also of Susan Drive, because they had heard Garcia recently burglarized some area residences, Goodyear said.
Walker said he and Hampson parked in an area near Garcia's residence and that he alone exited the vehicle and approached the residence when Garcia and his roommate, WyoTech student John Roberts, no age given, chased him, according to Goodyear.
Walker said he got back into Hampson's truck, after which Hampson "took off," court papers said. As the two were turning right onto Susan Drive, Walker said, someone at Beatty's residence fired a gun at the vehicle.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Beatty told police that he began waving the gun at them and yelling at them to stop, but they didn't. Beatty claimed that once on Susan Drive, Hampson gunned the engine, kicking up gravel. He said he must have been startled and squeezed the trigger, firing one shot that struck the driver's side window of Hampson's truck, Beatty said he did not know if he hit anyone.
Walker said that Hampson then fled to Valley Dairy, where Walker noticed blood on Hampson's hand, court papers said.
After his interview, Walker went with Trooper John Fisanich to identify 185 Susan Drive as the residence from which Beatty exited and fired the gun. Beatty was not there at that time, court papers said.
Police then took Beatty's roommate, fellow WyoTech student Josh Kidd, no age given, into custody to identify and describe Beatty, court papers said.
While interviewing Kidd, Beatty was taken to the shooting scene by fellow WyoTech student Sean Lawrence, court papers said. Police then took Beatty into custody. When police asked Beatty where the gun was that allegedly was used in the incident, he told them he got rid of it, court papers said. Beatty then said he had given the gun to Garcia, who supposedly had thrown it into a river.
In a subsequent interview with Garcia, who was taken into custody, he said he and Roberts confronted Walker when he approached their residence after receiving a call from Beatty alerting them to his presence outside, court papers said. Garcia then said he went to Lawrence's house, location unspecified, where Beatty was, court papers said.
Garcia said he heard a gunshot from Beatty's residence, but did not see him fire the weapon, court papers said. Garcia then denied ever having the gun and claimed Lawrence got rid of it, court papers said.
Police then returned to Lawrence's residence, where he admitted to disposing of the gun, court papers said. The gun was recovered after Lawrence showed police where it had been thrown, court papers said. In a subsequent interview, Garcia and Lawrence admitted to having conspired to dispose of the gun for Beatty, court papers said.
It was unclear yesterday whether any charges would be filed by police against Walker, Garcia, Roberts, Kidd or Lawrence in connection with the incident.
All have been placed on suspension from WyoTech until further review, Herman said.
Haberl ordered Beatty to remain in the Indiana County Jail without bond to await a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Nov. 27 at Haberl's office.
Hampson was weeks from completing the school's three-month street rod/custom fabrication program. He previously had completed the school's six-month collision refinishing program.
Herman said professional grief counselors were made available yesterday to campus faculty and students and will continue to be on hand for as long as is determined necessary.
