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Thursday, March 1, 2012

PA Armored Car Guard Kills Partner And Steals 2M+... On The Run Now

Grim discovery: Haines was discovered dead in the truck when it was found idling under a bridge in Pittsburgh, pictured, on Tuesday afternoon

Man-hunt: Police said he is driving a tan Ford Explorer with Pennsylvania license plate number GZW-4572

PITTSBURGH - A man police said killed his partner and stole $2.3 million from an armored vehicle on Tuesday remains on the run.

Investigators said an arrest warrant has been issued for Kenneth Konias Jr., 22, of Dravosburg. Konias is wanted in connection with the shooting death of Michael Haines, 31, of East McKeesport, and with stealing $2.3 million from the Garda Cash Logistics vehicle.

Haines' body was in the back of the truck found idling under a bridge in the Strip District Tuesday afternoon.

“This is a premeditated murder,” Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said. “Our belief is that he planned to rob the company and if he had to kill the guard then he planned to do that. He shot the guy from close range in the back of the head to accomplish the robbery. That’s pretty cold.”

According to the criminal complaint, Konias called a friend and said, "I [expletive] up. My life is over."

The police paperwork cited the friend as asking, "What? Did you kill someone?"

The friend told police that Konias then answered, "Yes," and said he had enough money to live on for the rest of his life. Police said Konias also asked the friend about extradition laws in Canada and Mexico.

The criminal complaint also stated that Konias called his mother after the incident and stopped by his Dravosburg home, leaving behind a coat with what detectives said appeared to be blood splatter on the front.

Police said Haines and Konias made their first stop of the day at Rivers Casino then went to Home Depot on McKnight Road. Investigators said after stopping at Home Depot, they were scheduled to return to Garda's office in the Strip District.

Detectives said Konias was seen on surveillance tape running from the offices to his car.

Investigators think Konias has three semi-automatic handguns. Police said he is driving a champagne colored Ford Explorer with Pennsylvania license plate number GZW-4572.

“He’s armed and very dangerous,” Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said.

Garda is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Konais' arrest. Anyone with information should call the Pittsburgh Homicide Office at 412-323-7161 or 911.

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