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Husband Sought As Person Of Interest In Washington Co. Fatal Shooting

BURGETTSTOWN (KDKA) -- State police say they are searching for a man wanted as a person of interest in connection with his wife's fatal shooting as she was driving her car in a rural area of Washington County Tuesday afternoon.

The Washington County Coroner's Office identifies the victim as 68-year-old Carolin Kern of Avella.

According to the coroner's office, Kern was found dead in her vehicle on McNeeley Road near Strope Road in Jefferson Township around noon.

She had suffered a shotgun wound to the chest.

Investigators say it appears Kern's vehicle was rammed from behind. She was then shot through the driver's side window and the suspect then drove away.

State police say they are now trying to locate Kern's husband, 62-year-old Dennis Kern. They are calling him a person of interest in the case.

Dennis-James-Kern
(Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania State Police)

"There's a state-wide BOLO (be-on-the-lookout alert) for Mr. Kern right now," said Trooper Matthew Jardine, of Pennsylvania State Police. "There's also, we have posted his information on all of our watch services and we've shared his information with other law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and surrounding states."

He's described as a white male, about 5-foot-10-inches tall and has short, light hair and brown eyes.

Trooper Jardine told KDKA "every available" trooper was out actively searching for him. Kern was arrested back in March for threatening to shoot and kill his wife.

"It's a possibility that Mr. Kern has a shotgun on him," Trooper Jardine said. "If anybody does see him or have contact, they should not confront him and immediately contact police."

Kern is believed to be driving a 2013 dark-gray, single-cab Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with tinted windows and the license plate YTN-7799.

A neighbor who did not want to be identified described the manhunt near his home.

"There were multiple police cars in the area from about 4 o'clock in the afternoon," he said. "But they had assault rifles out and stuff. It's like out of a movie or something; it's pretty crazy. Definitely never seen anything like that in my lifetime."

Meanwhile, several police officers and detectives could be seen inside the victim's home in Avella Tuesday night, searching for clues and evidence.

Anyone with information on Kern's pickup or his whereabouts is asked to call State Police at the Washington County barracks at (724)-223-5200.

The investigation continues.

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