Jessica L. Callahan

A Hilliards woman is accused of homicide in the shooting death of a West Sunbury man whose body was found Monday near the rodeo grounds in Washington Township after being shot in the back.

Jessica L. Callahan,19, was charged with criminal homicide and placed in Butler County Prison in connection with the death of Tyler J. Whitlatch, 31, Trooper Josh Black, public information officer said in a Tuesday statement.

She is accused of shooting Whitlatch at a Venango Township location and then transporting him to the rodeo grounds, where he died of a gunshot wound, according to William F. Young III, Butler County coroner.

Police said they were dispatched to the North Washington Rodeo grounds at 3:15 p.m. Monday. Emergency services dispatch had received a call from the shooter indicating that a male was shot in the back.

Following an investigation, police determined that Callahan shot Whitlatch at the end of an argument that took place on Kohlmeyer Road, Venango Township.

Callahan then drove Whitlatch to the rodeo grounds and called 911, police said. Whitlatch was pronounced dead when officers and EMS arrived, documents showed.

The incident is under investigation.

Route 38 was briefly closed Monday as an investigation was conducted. It is currently open for normal traffic.

Officials said this was an isolated incident and at no time was there a public safety concerns.

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