Update: Harford County double shooting now a double homicide, family dog also shot and killed
(July 3 Update) The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has provided the following update regarding that double shooting in Pylesville, which is now classified as a double homicide. A Pennsylvania man is in custody following a double murder that occurred Saturday evening near the Pennsylvania State line in in Pylesville, Maryland.
On Saturday, July 1, at 8:49 p.m., patrol deputies assigned to the Northern Precinct of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1700 block of Scott Road in Pylesville for the report of two subjects who had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies located two adult males, suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The family dog had also been shot and killed.
The victims were identified as Timothy Wayne Witherite, 62, and David Joseph Oktavec, 70, both of Pylesville. The investigation was assumed by detectives with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division who were supported by investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Unit.
The investigation progressed swiftly and a suspect, identified as Steven M. Nolan, 53, of Pennsylvania, was taken into custody without incident by Pennsylvania State Police, approximately two hours after the incident. While the motive remains under investigation, initial information indicates Nolan shot Witherite in the home and shot Oktavec outside of the residence before fleeing the scene.
Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have obtained charges in Maryland for Nolan. Nolan is currently being held in a Pennsylvania jail pending extradition to Maryland. As of this writing, there is known motive for the shootings.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Detective Gividen, with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, at 443-409-3154. Those who wish to remain anonymous, may report their information through Metro Crime Stoppers Tipline at 1-866-7Lockup.
Ace News Today’s original article regarding the shootings appears below.
(Report from July 2, 2023) On the evening of July 1, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) announced that their deputies were investigating a double shooting that went down near the Maryland / Pennsylvania line in the 1700 block of Scott Road in rural Pylesville, Maryland. The Sheriff’s Office said that there were two confirmed gunshot victims and that they had a suspect in custody. They also confirmed that there was no threat to the local community.
A short time later, HCSO announced that the two gunshot victims were both adult males and that they were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Additional information regarding the fatalities and the arrest will be provided as it becomes available.
(Source: Harford County Sheriff’s Office)
(Cover photo, 1700 block Scott Road, Pylesville, Image credit: Google Maps)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
