SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY – Police announce four arrests in connection to the brutal murder of a Hess gas station clerk on Sunday night. Linda Ness, 55, of Carlisle, was gunned down just after 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night at the Hess gas station located along the 7000 block of Carlisle Pike.
Christian Conway, 20, of Upper Allen Township, Shante Bruce Rice, 19, of Mechanicsburg, Tyler Bradshaw, 19, of Mechanicsburg and 17-year-old Brandon Mathna have all been charged in the killing of Ness.They were charged with homicide, robbery and conspiracy, police said.
All four have been arraigned and placed in Cumberland County Prison without bail.
Police say Bradshaw was the shooter.
Original Story:
A 55-year-old female gas station attendant was shot dead in Cumberland County late Sunday night. Police responded to a 911 call reporting a woman shot at the Hess Gas Station located at 7034 Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring
Township around 10:30 p.m.
Linda Ness, of Carlisle, who was a store employee, was found dead behind the counter with an apparent gunshot wound, police said.
Around 10:15 p.m. Sunday, James Hetrick, who lives near the station and shops at the store regularly, stopped by.
“All the guys at the shop here, we all go over there and get food and we know all the girls from over there. And, I live right here. With it being right in our township it’s really hard to take,” said Hetrick.
A few minutes later, police say another person entered the store, talked to Ness and left without buying anything.
About two minutes after that, two more people came in. They appeared to have a conversation with Ness before one of them shot her, police said surveillance video shows.
Police are trying to determine if the man who entered the store before the shooting is connected to the crime.
Cumberland County District Attorney Daivd Freed said it didn’t appear that the masked men actually took anything from the store.
“To the actors who committed this brazen, brutal crime I would say this: we are patient. And, we will find them. And we’ll bring them to justice,” said Freed.
A customer entered the store about 10 minutes after the shooting and discovered Ness’ body. The customer didn’t realize at first that Ness had been shot, and thought she’d suffered a heart attack. The customer tried performing CPR and called 911.
Police spent Monday trying to improve the quality of the surveillance video, which was recorded on VHS.
The suspects are considered armed and dangerous, police said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Ness Tuesday. Should the autopsy confirm a homicide, it would be the county’s first for the year.
A spokeswoman for Hess released a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Linda Ness’ family at this very difficult time. The safety of our employees is our first concern every day, and we are working closely with the local authorities as they investigate this tragic event.”
Anyone with information should contact Silver Spring Township Police at 717-697-0607.