Man Enters Penn Twp. Business, Threatens To Kill Employees
PENN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A man who allegedly walked into a Penn Township business with an AK-47 and threatened to kill the employees Thursday morning has turned himself into police Monroeville Police.
According to police, the incident happened at Perma-Cast Inc. on Enterprise Drive around 12:30 a.m.
The suspect, Matthew Smith, turned himself in at the Monroeville Police Department around noon Thursday after spending the night as the subject of a massive manhunt.
"He was very polite, he was cordial. He was a kind, young man. Engaged the officers in conversation at the Monroeville Police Department, let them know that he did store those weapons in a different location," Penn Township Police Chief John Otto said. "He did not have those in his possession when he turned himself in at the Monroeville Police Station."
Around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police say Smith showed up at Perma-Cast in Export with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder and a handgun sticking out of his pocket.
He told employees at a loading dock to leave before he went inside and threatened his co-workers.
"As far as direct threats, 'I'm going to kill you.' I have heard anybody say that just quite yet," said Chief Otto.
Smith left the scene in a gold Hyundai. Minutes later, a fire broke out inside of the business.
"Throughout the day, we were able to determine - most likely - that the fire at the building last night was a result of a piece of machinery – the foundry machinery that melts metal – being unattended whenever the employee was forced to flee the building," Chief Otto said. "We see no evidence that this individual went into that building intent on causing that fire."
Smith was questioned by investigators, arraigned by video and then taken to the Westmoreland County Jail.
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