Jerry Lee Daugherty III was a United States Army combat veteran who was remembered for his service to his country and his love of sports. Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on September 18, 1989, Jerry was the son of Sue Malzi and Jerry Daugherty Jr. He graduated from Conemaugh Valley High School in 2008, where he had been a member of the varsity football team. After high school, he enlisted in the Army, serving for six years, which included a tour during the war in Afghanistan. After his military career, he enjoyed watching sports, especially hockey and football, and was a dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was 37 years old at the time of his death.
The quiet Sunday afternoon of November 1, 2026, was shattered by violence in the small community of East Conemaugh Borough. At approximately 3:15 p.m., gunfire broke out in the vicinity of the 200 block of Second Street. The incident involved two men and resulted in a chaotic scene.
When police arrived, they found 27-year-old Shayne Gee deceased inside an overturned SUV. He had been shot multiple times.
Nearby, in an alley situated between First and Second streets, authorities found Jerry Daugherty. He had suffered a single, devastating gunshot wound to the head. Emergency medical personnel transported him to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite medical intervention, Jerry passed away from his injury at 5:25 p.m. The Cambria County Coroner, Jeff Lees, officially ruled the deaths of both Jerry and Shayne Gee as homicides following autopsies.
The investigation was led by Cambria County detectives, with the District Attorney's Office stating that the shooting was an "isolated incident." District Attorney Jessica Aurandt assured the community there was no ongoing threat, explaining that the violence was not a random act but stemmed from ongoing "issues" between two families in the neighborhood. She confirmed that the individuals involved had been identified and were being interviewed as investigators worked to determine the exact sequence of events and who fired the shots.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including police from Richland, West Hills, East Taylor, and East Conemaugh, as well as the county's Emergency Response Team and the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Service Unit, responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. A woman who identified herself as Shayne Gee's mother told a news outlet that a man approached her son's vehicle with a gun. She stated that after her son stopped the car and asked what was happening, the man "just started letting loose in the car," causing her son to speed away, which led to the vehicle flipping over.
Residents of the close-knit neighborhood expressed their shock and disbelief. Several people recalled hearing two separate series of sounds they initially thought were fireworks. One lifelong resident told a reporter that nothing like this had ever happened in their community before.
In accordance with his wishes, there were no public viewing or services for Jerry. His obituary noted that he was preceded in death by his father and his maternal grandfather. He is survived by his mother, Sue, his grandparents, Mary Malzi and Patty and Jerry Daugherty Sr., and numerous aunts, uncles, and other family members. His family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in his memory.
As of early November 2026, the investigation into the double homicide remained active. While authorities were confident they understood the core conflict, they continued to process evidence and conduct interviews before determining whether criminal charges would be filed. Investigators asked anyone in the area with home security or doorbell camera footage to contact the Cambria County non-emergency line at 814-472-2100.
