State police investigating death at shooting scene outside Beaver County Walmart

MONACA, Pa. — Full of life and smiles — that’s how 48-year-old Kenneth Vinyard is being remembered.

“He was such a kind and good man as evidenced as he was acting as a good Samaritan,” Attorney Joel Sansone said.

His family’s attorney is bringing light to his death, which happened in the parking lot of the Walmart in Monaca Sunday night.

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Sansone said Vinyard was helping a man who was shot right by his car while he was waiting for his fiance to come out of Walmart.

“An unidentified man insisted he step away and violently pushed Mr. Vinyard to the ground where he struck his head on the pavement. His fiancé began to render aid to Mr. Vinyard including chest compressions because he had no pulse,” Sansone said.

That’s when Sansone said the man identified himself to the fiance as a police officer with Center Township. Just a few hours later, Vinyard died from his injuries.

“This appears to me to be another incident of senseless police violence. There was no excuse for the officer involved to engage in any physical act let alone a violence shove that caused the death of a man who was just trying to help another human being he did not know,” Sansone said.

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State police have confirmed they are investigating the death, but told Channel 11 it’s early and they do not have any further details to release.

Meantime, the family wants answers and for this officer to be charged in the death of their loved one.

“On behalf of his fiancé and his family. I am demanding action. This officer should be immediately suspended pending the outcome of this investigation but the facts as I’ve been told he should be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least,” Sansone said.

The district attorney said his office can’t comment as state police are investigating.

The family has set up a GoFundMe fundraising site in order to help with the burial costs: https://gofund.me/512a8566.

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