COATESVILLE, PA — A 23-year-old man accused of firing gunshots at an occupied vehicle in Coatesville was arrested Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, following a series of police encounters and an investigation that resulted in attempted homicide and firearms charges.
Duane Griffy was taken into custody at approximately 9:30 a.m. in West Caln Township, with assistance from the West Caln Township Police Department, according to Coatesville police.
Griffy faces charges of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license stemming from separate incidents, recklessly endangering another person, flight to avoid apprehension and related offenses.
The investigation dates to Aug. 3, when a Coatesville police officer spotted Griffy on the porch of a residence in the 700 block of Coates Street. Officers knew he had several outstanding arrest warrants, police reported.
According to investigators, Griffy entered the residence when officers approached. Police subsequently discovered a loaded firearm on the porch, and Griffy surrendered later that evening after the Chester County Emergency Response Team surrounded the property.
Investigators later determined that Griffy’s fingerprints were on the firearm, leading to additional charges of carrying a firearm without a license and flight to avoid apprehension.
A separate shooting investigation began Sunday, Nov. 8, at approximately 1:43 p.m., when Coatesville police received a ShotSpotter alert reporting seven gunshots near Coates Street and Chester Avenue.
Responding officers discovered evidence that gunfire had occurred. Detectives subsequently obtained video footage that police say identified Griffy as the individual who fired at an occupied black sedan.
The investigation resulted in an attempted homicide arrest warrant. At that time, Griffy also had an active warrant from a bail agency and another warrant involving firearms offenses, according to police.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, at approximately 3:44 p.m., officers located Griffy inside a vehicle in the 400 block of Victoria Drive. Police reported that he fled on foot into a wooded area, prompting an extensive search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The search included K-9 teams and drone operators, with assistance from Chester County Detectives, Pennsylvania State Police and police departments from Caln, Valley, Tredyffrin, Easttown, West Goshen, Willistown, Upper Uwchlan, Sadsbury and Kennett townships, along with West Chester Borough police.
Griffy was subsequently apprehended Nov. 12 and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Gregory Hines. He was committed to Chester County Prison after failing to post $1.15 million cash bail.
Anyone with information about the Nov. 8 shooting is asked to contact Coatesville Police Detective-Corporal Kirt Guyer at 610-384-2300, ext. 4614.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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