A man in rural Pennsylvania who is accused of hailing gunfire at a local town council meeting, killing three, had a years-long dispute over property rights with the government board, police said on Tuesday.
Rockne Newell, 59, was tackled and subdued by the town’s executive director — who’s now being called a hero — and was taken into custody by police, shortly after the Monday evening incident in Stroudsburg, Pa., NBC reported.
Witnesses say the shooting suspect walked toward the building where the supervisors were meeting and began firing shots through the window, CNN reported.
“Witnesses would later tell me they saw pictures exploding away from the walls,” said Pocono Record reporter Chris Reber, who was covering his first board meeting, CNN said.
After entering the meeting room, the suspect fired at the 15 officials and attendees, police said. He actually left for a moment, then returned and started shooting again, said Pennsylvania State Police Capt. Edward Hoke, in CNN.
Three died, and several others were wounded.
Mr. Newell reportedly had a property rights issue with the supervisors that led to a court order that booted him from the property, CNN reported. The Associated Press reported that the property had been condemned.
At the time, he told the local newspaper that losing the property put him out on the streets, with nowhere to go.
Police haven’t yet identified the victims.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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