Faith leaders urge officials to further investigate death of Jamaican immigrant in Venango County

FRANKLIN, Pa. — State police in Venango County have not filed any charges in the death of Jamaican immigrant Peter Spencer. Now, community leaders are gathering and requesting other law enforcement agencies to get involved.

“We are really concerned about the limited information coming out of Venango County about the case,” said Tracy Merrick with the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh.

Merrick is just one of nearly 100 faith leaders who wrote and signed a letter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General, and the Venango District Attorney.

“Hoping among that group they can stir this and help it move off its stalemate position from where it is right now,” Merrick said.

That letter seeks further investigation into the death of 29-year-old Spencer, who lived in Pittsburgh.

State police said Spencer was shot nine times and died while on a hunting trip with a former coworker in the woods of Venango County.

The people on the trip with him were questioned and released. Nearly two months later, no one has been charged with Spencer’s death.

“I try to put myself in the shoes of those family members and I would be extremely angry, I would be frustrated, and I would be hurt that the community I’m part of. The Western PA community in this case is not showing compassion to them as we feel they should,” Merrick said.

Channel 11 has asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Attorney General about the letter.

Both said they received it.

“Under Pennsylvania law, our office does not have jurisdiction to investigate non-fatal shootings and homicides absent a referral from the District Attorney for either a conflict or resource need,” said a spokesperson from the Attorney General’s Office.

At this point, there is no referral from the Venango District Attorney.

“Part of our goal is to keep this before the public, keep putting information out there to encourage a groundswell from the community looking for justice,” Merrick said.

In recent communications, the DA told Channel 11 he understands the community’s desire for answers. His office plans to have all the reports from the investigation in the next three to five weeks.

Attorney for Pittsburgh man shot, killed in Venango Co. wants Attorney General to investigate

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