Police: 3-hour standoff in Altoona resulted in two men being charged

UPDATE:

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Altoona Police Department announced that they are looking to identify the group of young men that McCloskey and Colyer allegedly shot at.

The indivduals pictured below are considered “persons of interest” by APD in the shooting investigation. If anyone knows the identity of any of the individuals, they are ask to contact the department either via email (sstrobel@altoonapa.gov), by calling 814-949-2564 or by private Facebook message.

ORIGINAL STORY:

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two Altoona men are facing felony charges after allegedly firing gunshots at a group of men, resulting in a 3-hour standoff.

Robert McCloskey Jr., 25, and Jody Colyer, 31, were charged after police were called on Aug. 11 to 17th Street and 8th Ave. on reports of multiple gunshots being fired. When they arrived, police searched the area for anyone that could have been involved, however none were located.

On Aug. 12, police conducted a follow up to the alleged gun shot incident. During the investigation, officers were able to find cameras in the area which showed six men walking in the area from 7th Ave. towards 8th on 18th Street.

The video showed a white SUV passing by the men and as the vehicle drives by, the video captures someone from within the SUV firing at least one shot at the group, according to the criminal complaint. Immediately afterwards, one of the men from the group can be seen firing at least two rounds from a handgun, police noted in the charges.

Officers were also able to obtain footage from another camera on 7th Ave., which showed the occupants of the previously mentioned SUV inside a Sheetz moments before the shooting. Police were able to pull the license plate number from the SUV and identified McCloskey as the owner.

On Aug. 15, police were conducting surveillance in the area of 3rd Ave. after they found the SUV parked outside of a residence nearby. Police were able to identify McCloskey and Colyer multiple times during the surveillance as they left and reentered the residence.

Police approached Colyer, who went into custody without incident. Colyer allegedly told police that the group of men were harassing him and McCloskey inside of Sheetz and that when they left, McCloskey allegedly followed the men and fired a gun towards them, according to the complaint.

Colyer claimed that he didn’t want to be involved with McCloskey because they were both convicted felons. He also told police that there was possibly a firearm in the SUV that was parked outside, but it could also be in the house, police noted in the charges.

When transporting Colyer, police noted that a small baggie of suspected crystal meth and a smoking device were found on him.

Police then attempted to execute a search warrant on the residence in which McCloskey was confirmed to still be inside of, which led to a 3-hour standoff. McCloskey surrendered peacefully and police were able to search the residence.

Police found the following in McCloskey’s residence, according to the affidavit:

• Seven ounces of marijuana
• Numerous smoking devices
• A large quantity of packaging material
• An AK style rifle with two magazines and ammunition
• A Taurus .38 special revolver containing two live rounds and one spent
• A G-Force Arm 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun with ammunition

McCloskey is now facing three felony charges of possession of firearm prohibited, a felony charge of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and two misdemeanor charges of conspiracy and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

Colyer is now facing a felony charge of possession of firearm prohibited, two misdemeanor charges of conspiracy and two misdemeanor charges of use/possession of drug paraphernalia as well as possession of a controlled substance.

Both men are currently in the Blair County prison, both with bail set at $500,000 each. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28.

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