NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — In the quiet hours before dawn on Saturday, 46-year-old Jeffrey Ballard was shot and killed outside the Elks Lodge on Third Avenue — a brutal loss that has shaken his community and left investigators racing for answers.
According to spokespeople for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement was summoned to the lodge at approximately 3:30 a.m. after reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found Ballard suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital but died shortly after.
Ballard — described as a resident of the Mon Valley area — was identified publicly by the DA’s office only hours after the shooting, a confirmation that both local and county investigators said would help move the case forward.
In the immediate aftermath, detectives from the DA’s office worked alongside the New Kensington Police Department, canvassing the surrounding area for witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage from nearby buildings, and collecting physical evidence. That work is ongoing.
No arrests have been made so far. Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains very active, noting that they are following multiple leads — including witness statements and video evidence — in hopes of identifying a suspect or suspects.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information — even seemingly minor — to come forward. They say community cooperation could prove vital, whether to reconstruct the timeline or to help determine a motive. Officers have provided phone numbers for tips: the Westmoreland County detective bureau and the New Kensington police.
The shooting has stirred fresh unease among residents, many of whom live near the lodge. For some, Ballard’s death is a tragic confirmation of worries long expressed about late‑night activity and violence in the neighborhood. Others, while mourning, express hope in a thorough police response — and a desire that more such names never be added to this city’s list of victims.
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