UPDATE: Police Ask for Public’s Help in Solving Evans City Homicide

State police at Butler are asking for the public’s help after Evans City resident Robert Gaurrich was shot to death at his auto repair shop over the weekend.

Troopers said Gaurrich, 45, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest sometime between 4 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Friday.

An acquaintance discovered his body late Friday evening at Bob's Trucks & Auto Repair on Evans City Road in Forward Township, just outside Evans City.

State police spokesman Trooper Dan Kesten said the friend became worried about Gaurrich after he was unable to get in contact with him Friday. When he got to the shop, he found Gaurrich’s body and called police, Kesten said.

“People were expecting him to return home,” Kesten said of Gaurrich.

Cpl. Daniel Herr said Gaurrich's body was found outside the building. He said investigators could not comment on if there was a struggle before Guarrich was shot.

Authorities said it did not appear there was any forced entry into the building.

Herr said Gaurrich's fiance, Jessica Hoover, who was contacted by the friend who found Gaurrich, was at the building when troopers arrived.

The Butler County Coroner's office on Saturday ruled the death a homicide.

Investigators are now looking for a missing .30-30 rifle that Gaurrich had at the shop and planned to sell.

"It was supposed to be at the shop and we had information that it was there," Herr said. "When we did the search, it wasn’t.

Herr said nothing else appeared to have taken from the building.

Hoover told KDKA someone was supposed drop by the shop to discuss buying the rifle late last week.

The weapon may have been used to kill Gaurrich, Herr said. A .30-30 caliber shell casing also was found near a door to the garage.

No arrests have been made yet. Herr said investigators are pursuing a few different leads.

"We are actively continuing the investigation," he said. "There are leads we're running down and a few different avenues."

State troopers are asking anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious at the auto repair shop Friday to call the Butler barracks at 724-284-8100.

Shock and Sorrow in Evans City

In the days since Gaurrich’s death, several Evans City area residents have expressed alarm at a homicide in the quiet town.

“I have lived in Evans City since 1992 and this is very shocking for our small community,” reader Julie Wilson-Smith commented on the Cranberry Patch Facebook page.

Jamie Mays, a mother of two sons, said she was saddened to learn of Gaurrich’s death and will be a little frightened for her own family until the killer is arrested. 

“I live not even a mile away in EC, and I am shocked,” she commented.

Others remembered Gaurrich as a good mechanic and friend.

“It’s devastating,” Danette Klingensmith commented. “Bob was such a great guy. He knew his job and did it well.”

Hoover told WPXI her fiance had no enemies. 

"He was wonderful," she told the news station. "He took the shirt off his back for anyone. He'd do anything for you."

Did you know Bob Gaurrich? Please leave a memory of him in the comment section below. If you live in the Evans City community, were you shocked by a homicide in the small town?