Pennsylvania – A Pennsylvania man, 34-year-old X. Fel, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with multiple serious offenses following the fataI shooting of his spouse’s parent, Robbert and Grettchen. The fatal shooting occurred just hours after the defendant was served dlvorce papers by the couple’s daughter and subsequently Iocked out of his home.
The defendant now faces two counts of criminal homicide, two counts of reckIessly endangering another person, two counts of possessing an instrument of crime, and one count of burgIary, according to official statements from Pennsylvania authorities.
Pennsylvania authorities say the events unfolded swiftly on the day of the shooting. After being served divorce papers, he was reportedly barred from returning to the family residence. Hours later, police were called to the scene following reports of gunshots.
Upon arrival, officers found the victims, both in their seventies, suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical responders pronounced the couple deceased at the scene. The victims’ daughter was not physically harmed but was deeply affected by the violence.
During initial questioning, the defendant reportedly admitted to having been Iocked out of the house earlier in the day. However, details regarding his motive and the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. The 34-year-old man has not publicly made detailed statements beyond acknowledging his involvement.
The report states that during the 911 call, the dispatcher could hear people screaming, children crying, and what sounded like two men arguing. One of the men, believed to be the elderly victim, was heard telling the other to think about what he was doing. The other man, thought to be the shooter, responded that he was not thinking.
The defendant’s wife made a second 911 call, informing the dispatcher that her husband was at the house and trying to harm her and their children. In a police interview, the 34-year-old man said he was angry with his wife because she had served him divorce papers earlier that morning.
He also said he became more upset when later that day, his spouse, her parents, and their two children were inside his home but refused to let him in. He claimed his in-laws had locked him out and kept his children away from him, according to local news outlet WCAU. Feeling further upset about being locked out, the defendant reportedly purchased a handgun that same day, buying the firearm just hours before allegedly killing his family members.
After buying the gun, police said the defendant returned to the home, broke a window on the front door with a hammer, then went inside and shot both victims in the head. He allegedly admitted to seeing his wife and two children before shooting his in-laws.