JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Johnstown man wanted for Criminal Homicide in connection with a man found deceased in Indiana County earlier this year has been apprehended in North Carolina.
Police say Dionte Demond Jones, 28, was taken into custody on Monday by the United States Marshals Service in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and was lodged in the Hoke County Jail.
Jones was charged on Saturday with one count of Criminal Homicide in the death of Dashawn Cornelius Green, whose body was discovered by a highway maintenance worker on January 21 in southern Indiana County.
Extradition arrangements are pending.
According to police, after an extensive investigation, it is alleged that Jones shot Green on the evening of January 18, 2021, at a residence along C Street in the City of Johnstown. Charges were filed Saturday before Cambria County Magisterial District Judge John Prebish, Jr., who issued a warrant for Jones’ arrest.
Police say two Johnstown women, a mother and her daughter, also face charges in Cambria County after they were found to have hindered the investigation.
Janayah Precious Smith, 23, was charged September 28 with four felony counts of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution and misdemeanor counts of Abuse of Corpse and Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function. She was taken into custody on October 2 and arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Kevin Price. She was then remanded to the Cambria County Prison in lieu of $75,000 monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 12 at 10:00 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Michael Musulin.
Smith’s mother, Joyce Ann Smith, 58, was also charged on September 28 with three felony counts of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution and a misdemeanor count of Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function. She was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Prebish, Jr. and was remanded to Cambria County Prison in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 14 at 12:30 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Musulin.
According to police, on January 21, 2021, at approximately 2:16 p.m., Green’s body was discovered in a grassy area along the 2000 block of Mulligan Hill Road in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County. Troopers immediately responded to the scene and confirmed the discovery after a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation employee discovered Green’s body while inspecting a nearby drain. Indiana County Coroner Jerry L. Overman, Jr. pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.
An autopsy revealed that Green died as a result of a gunshot wound. His death was ruled a homicide.
Upon investigation, troopers learned that Green’s girlfriend and family members began searching for him on January 18 after they were unable to locate or reach him by phone. Green was then reported missing to the City of Johnstown Police Department on January 19.
With assistance from the City of Johnstown Police Department (JPD), troopers learned that JPD officers were dispatched on January 18 at approximately 7:00 p.m. to a “shots fired” call in the area of C Street in the City of Johnstown. Responding JPD officers arrived and canvassed the area. Multiple residents reported to officers that approximately five gunshots were fired in rapid succession at approximately 7:00 p.m. that evening. After canvassing the area, gathering information, and interviewing residents, officers then resumed patrol after being unable to locate any victims.
On January 27 at approximately 3:00 p.m., troopers executed a search warrant on the residence at 163 C Street. During the search, multiple pieces of evidence were discovered and seized to include seven 9mm shell casings located approximately 3-5 feet from the rear door. Troopers also observed a large area of dried blood, which was later confirmed via laboratory testing to be the blood of Green. This area of dried blood was located approximately 55-65 feet from the rear door of the home. Troopers also discovered four bullet strikes into the ground 33-55 feet from the rear door.
The investigation, which has involved the cooperation of multiple agencies, numerous interviews, and reviews of cell phone records and DNA analysis, led troopers to file charges against Jones on Saturday.
The Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Task Force and the United States Marshals Service then worked expeditiously to quickly locate and apprehend Jones.
Members of the Troop A Major Case Team were assisted by the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, the Indiana County Coroner’s Office, the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Johnstown Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.
