JACKSON TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say one man is dead after an apparent shooting in Luzerne County Thursday night.
Pennsylvania State Police say multiple agencies responded to reports of a shooting in the 300 block of Chase Road in Jackson Township just after 11:30 p.m.
Troopers are actively executing a search warrant at the home where the shooting occurred on Chase Road in Jackson Township and police are looking into comments made by the alleged killer that this was connected to some sort of mass shooting.
State and local police investigators say a man admits to killing his brother.
The murder happened last night in the Back Mountain of Luzerne County.
Investigators say John Kilpatrick claims he shot his brother because his brother allegedly threatened to kill him.
“Last evening at approximately 11 pm 911 dispatchers received a call from Chase Road in Jackson Township with the statement that the person at the residence had killed his brother,” said Sam Sanguedolce the Luzerne County District Attorney.
That call investigators say came from 33-year-old John Kilpatrick. State and local police converged on the home on Chase Road. They found 30-year-old Kevin Kilpatrick deceased on the floor. He had at least one gunshot.
As stated in the criminal complaint Kilpatrick claimed he and his brother were arguing at some point his brother allegedly lunged at him; his brother did not have a weapon.
According to the arrest affidavit, John Kilpatrick grabbed a gun that was nearby and shot at his brother twice hitting him at least once.
Detectives spent much of Friday searching the home for evidence.
When talking to detectives and on his way into and out of his arraignment at central court in Wilkes-Barre, Kilpatrick used the words ‘mass shooting.’
‘Mass shooting,’ said Kilpatrick.
“What do you mean about a mass shooting Mr. Kilpatrick?” responds 28/22 News Andy Mehalshick.
Kilpatrick had no comment.
I asked District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce about Kilpatrick’s comments.
“Based on the investigation thus far we don’t have any reason to believe that a mass shooting is actually going to occur. Obviously, we’re investigating whether or not he had a reasonable belief that was going to happen. What caused him to believe that we have no external reason that there was any threat of a mass shooting or a shooting of any kind quite frankly,” explained D.A. Sanguedolce.
Kyle Williams lives near the Kilpatrick home he says the homicide came as a shock.
“As neighbors, they were pretty quiet. I mean really the only interaction was as we’re going up and down the road for the most part. Maybe you see them walking the dog, kind of keeping to themselves didn’t have much interaction at all, to be honest,” said Williams.
Late this afternoon the Luzerne County coroner released information confirming that Kevin Kilpatrick died from gunshot wounds to the chest.
The manner of death a homicide.
John Kilpatrick will have a hearing on September 15.
Kilpatrick is charged with criminal homicide. He is being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after being denied bail. Police say there is no threat to the public.
