Oct 23, 2025 By Jon Andreassi 2 min read

Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh announced Wednesday that he has determined the chief of McDonald’s police department was justified in shooting a man earlier this month.

Walsh wrote in a press release that Chief Timothy Motte “was left with no choice than to discharge his firearm to protect both himself and the people in the surrounding area.”

On the evening of Oct. 3, Motte was called to the shopping plaza between Station Street and South Third Street where Jeremy Ray Washington was allegedly threatening an individual with a firearm.

Motte encountered Washington, 37, of Washington, near Michael’s Tavern in the 300 block of East Lincoln Avenue.

According to Walsh, Washington ran from Motte and dropped a gun. A witness saw Washington pick up the gun and point it at Motte.

Motte shot Washington in the arm, and Washington was transported to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.

In an interview with investigators, Washington claimed his shoe also came off and that he had picked up his shoe.

“He indicated the shoe was black so the officer could have mistaken it for a gun,” Walsh wrote in the release.

Immediately following the shooting, Motte was placed on paid administrative leave. He returned to work last week in an administrative capacity while the investigation into the shooting was ongoing.

Washington faces felony charges of aggravated assault and prohibited possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 10:30 a.m. today before District Judge Louis McQuillan.