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Brian Kuchinka, most recently of Port Allegany, is accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend and attempting to hide her body at the Midtown Motel, according to the Pennsylvania State Police and McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.
Officers with the Port Allegany Police Department were following up on a tip regarding a missing person when they attempted to contact Kuchinka, police said. He had been staying at the motel since earlier this month after the couple’s breakup.
As officers approached, they heard a single gunshot from inside Kuchinka’s room and smelled gunshot residue, investigators said. A perimeter was established, and Pennsylvania State Police made contact with Kuchinka by phone.
After a standoff, he exited the room with a handgun on him and was taken into custody with an apparent self-inflicted head wound, authorities said. He was transported to an out-of-state hospital for treatment under secure conditions.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Kuchinka carrying what appears to be the victim’s body from a small SUV into his motel room, officials said. Inside, officers found the woman dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
Kuchinka has been charged with:
- Criminal Homicide.
- Aggravated Assault (Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Attempting to Cause Serious Bodily Injury).
- Aggravated Assault (With a Deadly Weapon).
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
- The investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are asking anyone with information or who witnessed a reported disturbance in Costa’s Supermarket parking lot in Smethport between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, to contact Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run at 814-368-9230.
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