East Pittsburgh Borough, PA (PPP)— 26-year-old Robert Alexander Thornhill has been arrested after he allegedly fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run accident on October 9, 2021.

The accident occurred on Braddock Ave at Cable Ave in East Pittsburgh Borough, Allegheny County. According to a police report filed by a member of the Pennsylvania State Police, the suspect was driving a gray 2018 Porsche Macan west on Braddock Ave when he entered the lane of a red 2012 Kia Optima, causing a collision that killed the driver.

After the crash, Thornhill allegedly fled the scene and was later identified as the suspect through video surveillance and fingerprints found in the Porsche.

Witnesses reported seeing the suspect approach a delivery driver and offer him $1000 for a ride out of the area. The suspect was tracked down by GPS coordinates to an apartment complex where investigators found evidence linking him to the hit-and-run.

The suspect is facing multiple criminal charges including accidents involving death/personal injury, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, and failure to stop and give information/render aid.

Unable to post bail, Thornhill was confined to the Allegheny County Jail.

Name: Robert Alexander Thornhill
Gender: Male
Age: 26

Agency: Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Barracks

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-47
Docket Number: MJ-05247-CR-0000141-2023
Date Filed: March 16, 2023

Bail: $5,000 monetary
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail

Criminal Charges

1. Accidents involving death/personal injury, Felony 3
2. Accidents involving death/personal injury while not properly licensed, Felony 3
3. Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, Misdemeanor 3
4. Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, Summary offense
5. Driving on roadways laned for traffic – driving within single lane, Summary offense
6. Careless driving, Summary offense
7. Failure to stop and give information/render aid, Summary offense
8. Immediate notice of accident to police department, Summary offense
9. Immediate notice of accident to police department, Summary offense

Affidavit of Probable Cause
Your Affiant, Trooper Zachary J. Mitchell, is a member of the Pennsylvania State Police stationed at the Troop B, Pittsburgh Barracks. Your affiant has approximately 15 years of law enforcement experience with the past 14 being employed by the Pennsylvania State Police. Your affiant was assigned to the Patrol Unit of the Pittsburgh Barracks at the time of this incident. Your affiant has received training in crash investigation and conducting criminal investigations from recognized institutions such as the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Your affiant has investigated over 670 motor vehicle crashes. All the information contained in this affidavit was learned directly by your affiant or was communicated to us by other law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, or law enforcement clinicians and technicians.

On 10/09/21 at approximately 1551 hrs. I was dispatched to a two vehicle ‘Hit and Run’ motor vehicle crash which occurred on Braddock Ave at Cable Ave, East Pittsburgh Boro, Allegheny County. Multiple other Troopers and I responded to the scene to investigate and process.

Upon my arrival I observed the scene to include multiple vehicles (described in the following) and medics performing CPR On a male that was laying near a red Kia sedan. The crash appeared to involve two vehicles, a Porsche and Kia, traveling west on Braddock Ave. The gray 2018 Porsche Macan, herein after referred to as Unit 1, was abandoned with no passengers inside or on scene. Unit 1 was located on the right side of the roadway crashed into a concrete wall. The vehicle had various damage from impacting a red 2012 Kia Optima, hereinafter referred to as Unit 2, and the concrete wall.

Unit 2 was located on the left side of the roadway crashed into a concrete barrier. The sole occupant of this vehicle was identified as James HABERFIELD. The operator of Unit 2 was transported to Forbes Regional Hospital by EMS where he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy was performed on James HABERFIELD on 10/11/21. Dr. Ariel GOLDSCHMIDT of the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner determined that James HABERFIELD died as a result of multiple injuries due to a motor vehicle crash.

Corporal T. STEPHENSON, Troop B, Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist arrived on scene on 10/09/21 at approximately 1826 hrs and assisted with reconstruction of this crash.

Trooper C. MORRISON, Troop B, Forensic Services Unit arrived on scene on 10/09/23 at approximately 1731 hrs and photographed the scene and processed evidence.

Reconstruction reports indicate that Unit 1 (Porsche) entered Unit 2’s (Kia) lane without clearance, hitting Unit 2. After impact, Unit 2 traveled off the roadway to the left and hit a concrete barrier on the left side of the roadway head-on where it came to final rest. Unit 1 traveled off the roadway to the right and hit a concrete wall on the right side of the roadway where it came to final rest.

Both units were towed from the scene by Magill’s Towing and securely stored at PSP Washington. Unit 1 was processed for evidence and prints.

Your affiant canvassed the scene to determine if there were any witnesses to the accident or video surveillance of the incident.

During the course of this investigation, several witnesses were located. These witnesses’ identities have been ascertained by proof positive means, such as a driver’s licenses or social security number, and have been memorialized in reports maintained by your affiant. These individual’s identities are being withheld for the purpose of this affidavit, both to ensure their safety and to preserve the integrity of this ongoing investigation. They will be referred to in this report as Witnesses #1 and #2.

On 10/09/21 at approximately 1610 hrs, I interviewed Witness #1 outside of Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home located next to the crash scene. Witness #1 related the following: He/She heard the crash on Braddock Ave while he/she was outside making a phone call. During that time there was a delivery van parked outside of the funeral home making a delivery. Immediately following the crash, he/she observed a black male actor, hereinafter referred to as the accused. The accused walked from the direction of the crash. The accused walked up Cable Ave and approached the delivery driver. He/She described the accused as being in his late 20’s or early 30’s with longer braids and a black outfit. He/She heard the accused say to the delivery driver “I’ll give you $1000 for a ride to get me out of here.” The accused then walked under the balcony towards the delivery van and out of view. The delivery van left the area. The accused was gone. Your affiant obtained video surveillance from Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home. The surveillance captured video only, no audio. The video footage is dated 10/09/21 at 1540 hrs. Upon review of the video footage your affiant observed what appears to be a black male actor wearing a black T-shirt and dark colored pants (accused) walk into view of the camera from Cable Ave where the crash had occurred. The accused walks under the breezeway onto the funeral home property/parking lot; the delivery van drives away; the accused is no longer present.

Through the course or this investigation the identity of the delivery driver was obtained and will be referred to as Witness #2. Witness #2 was interviewed on 10/09/21 at approximately 1625 hrs. Witness #2 indicated that he/she was making a delivery to Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home on 10/09/21 at approximately 1600 hrs and was parked outside the funeral home in the driveway. When he/she was leaving the funeral home he/she heard a crash. Immediately following the sound of the crash, he/she was approached by a black male actor (accused). The accused said he needed a ride to Duquesne. Witness #2 told the accused he/she was not going that way. Witness #2 then agreed to give the accused a ride to North Versailles. Witness #2 described to police the area that he/she drove the accused to and dropped him off. Detective LOCKE or North Versailles Police Dept was present for this discussion and being familiar with the geographical area, spoke to the driver. Detective LOCKE recognized this location as ███████ apartment complex.

On 10/09/21 at approximately 1840 hrs Detective LOCKE forwarded video footage of ███████ apartment complex showing an individual matching the physical description (clothing, build, hair style) of the accused entering the apartments. Detective LOCKE analyzed video footage and determined that the accused had entered apartment 315. It was believed at the time that the accused was still in the apartment. Investigators went to ███████ apartment 315 to attempt to locate the accused. He had left the apartment prior to our arrival.

Unit 1 ‘s registration was run through NCIC at the scene and the registered owner was round to be ███████ – the owner of ██████████████, a luxury car rental service. ███████ was contacted and arrived on scene at the location of the crash. ███████ related that the Porsche was a rental vehicle and had been rented on 10/08/21 by ██████████████. She related that she tracks the vehicle by GPS and when she saw the vehicle was stationary for a period of time on Braddock Ave, she came to the see what was going on.

Through the course or this investigation your affiant was able to obtain video surveillance from ██████████████ from the day Unit 1 was rented. Upon review of the video surveillance, the video showed ███████, the person who rented unit 1, in the lobby area on 10/08/21, accompanied by two other unknown black males (one male later identified as the accused Robert THORNHILL). Through the course of this investigation, it was learned that on 10/09/21 at approximately 1614 hrs ███████ contacted Duquesne Police Department and reported unit 1 as stolen, slating that it had been taken overnight.

Tpr T. SCHUSTER communicated with detectives from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Intel Unit. Upon viewing the video from ██████████████ and ███████ apartments, investigators were able to positively identify the accused as Robert THORNHILL based upon previous arrests and investigations. After obtaining THORNHILL’s PA OLN photo and comparing to the videos, a positive ID was made by investigators based upon his physical facial features and physical appearance. THORNHILL was being monitored (ankle bracelet) by PA Probation and Parole leading up to, during the time of this incident, and after. An NCIC check revealed THORNHILL’s driver’s license is suspended.

On 10/13/21, Deputy District Director, Bob PETRARCO, Department of Corrections, provided the GPS coordinates for the accused on the dates surrounding this incident. The GPS coordinates show that THORNHILL was present at ██████████████ an 10/08/21 when the vehicle was rented; that he was present at Braddock Ave in E. Pittsburgh Boro when the crash occurred on 10/09/21; and that he was at ███████ apartment complex after the crash on 10/09/21.

Multiple items were submitted to the Allegheny County Lab for analysis. THORNHILL’s fingerprints were identified on the exterior driver door of the Porsche, the interior driver door of the Porsche, and a water bottle in the center console of the driver compartment.

Based on the above, your affiant respectfully requests that a warrant be issued for the accused.

Your affiant believes that good cause exists for delaying the dissemination of this arrest warrant information to include the arrest warrant and the affidavit of probable cause based on the following facts: 1) revealing the fact that an arrest warrant exists would allow or enable that actor to flee or to destroy evidence related to the crime(s); 2) delaying the fact that an arrest warrant exists is necessary to protect the safety of law enforcement officers executing the arrest warrant; and 3) delaying the dissemination of the affidavit of probable cause will preserve the integrity of this investigation.

Your affiant and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office believe that there are no reasonable alternative means available to protect the interests threatened by disclosure of this affidavit of probable cause and the arrest warrant.

This affidavit of probable cause has been reviewed by ADA Bragle who respectfully requests that the dissemination of this criminal complaint and arrest warrant be delayed by 72 hours to preserve the integrity of this investigation under the authority of Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 513C.