WEST PITTSTON — Borough police arrested Gary R. Patrick, 69, on charges he shot another man during a family dispute late Thursday night.
Police responded to 856 Foundry St. just after 9:30 p.m. where Patrick was lying on the ground with his arms outstretched and Wayne Tilley was suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
When Patrick was arrested, he allegedly blurted out, “He’s been raping her. He’s been hurting the baby. (Expletive) it. It is what it is,” court records say.
Before he was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, Tilley allegedly told police Patrick shot him.
Patrick told police he was with his wife and decided to check on their daughter Christina Appel at 846 Foundry St. where she resides with Tilley.
Patrick claimed he was concerned his daughter had been physically abused earlier in the day, but failed to report the suspected abuse to police, court records say.
Police said Patrick reported he was parked outside when Tilley emerged from the house with a child. Patrick alleged Tilley threw the child into the vehicle, grabbed his arm and threatened to break it.
Patrick claimed he drew his handgun, chambered a round by sliding it against his shirt or belt and discharged a round, striking Tilley in the abdomen, court records say.
Patrick’s wife Suzanne Patrick told police they drove to their daughter’s house to check on her when Tilley exited the residence with their granddaughter. Suzanne Patrick claimed the child ran from Tilley toward Gary Patrick.
Tilley allegedly grabbed the child’s legs as the child was on Suzanne Patrick’s lap when the shooting occurred.
Police said witnesses reported seeing Gary Patrick pulling the child from Tilley and hearing Patrick verbally threatening to kill Tilley before and after the shooting.
Christina Appel told police she picked up the firearm and placed it on a porch of 850 Foundry St. where police secured a .380-caliber handgun.
Patrick, of Packer Avenue, Exeter, was arraigned early Friday morning by District Judge David Barilla Jr. in Forty Fort on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $100,000 bail.
Police in Exeter and Pittston, Luzerne County detectives and state police Forensic Services Division assisted at the scene.
