Manhunt Underway for Suspect in Pennsylvania Shooting Spree
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WPVI(SOUDERTON, Pa.) — A manhunt is underway in and around Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, for a suspect in an overnight shooting spree that left six people dead and wounded another, authorities said.
Officials identified the suspect as 35-year-old Bradley William Stone of Pennsburg. All of the victims at three separate locations in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, are related to Stone, police said.
According to a Marine spokesperson, Stone is a former Marine reservist who served from 2002 to 2011, with one deployment to Iraq, leaving with the rank of sergeant.
The suspect may be wearing military fatigues and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Stone is known to use a cane or walker. Residents in the area were being told to stay in their homes and lock their doors as the search continued late Monday afternoon in the area 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
“Stone may be wearing military fatigues, in either sand or green color,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement posted to Facebook. “Stone should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Stone’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not approach him.”
Matthew Schafte, who told ABC News that he’s known Stone for 20-plus years, says he broke down in tears when he heard about the shootings.
“I would describe him as a laid back guy — loving his family, loving his country. I know he had issues with his children over a custody battle or something,” he said. “A decorated veteran, who would do anything for his country, anything for anybody.”
“I just broke down in tears. I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it, because this isn’t the Brad that I know,” Schafte said.
“A couple of months ago, I was hanging out with him, we sat down and had a drink,” he added. “We were just talking about old times, how everybody was doing, and he told me he was going through some things with his kids, but that’s about it.”
Police said they are conducting an extensive search in and around Pennsburg, at both known and outdoor locations where Stone may be located, the statement added.
“People in that area should remain indoors, keep their doors locked and call 9-1-1 if they think they have seen the suspect,” police said in the statement.
SWAT teams earlier surrounded a home in Souderton, Pennsylvania, where the suspect was originally believed barricaded inside, police told ABC News station WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. Witnesses heard a loud boom shortly before an unidentified person was taken out of the house on a stretcher.
Police also surrounded another home in nearby Pennsburg.
The first shooting was reported before 4 a.m. in Lower Salford Township, where police found a woman shot to death, WPVI reported.
More shootings occurred at a location in nearby Lansdale, with two people killed, WPVI reported.
Two more people were killed at a third scene in Souderton borough, according to the station.
It was not immediately clear where the sixth victim was killed.
Late Monday night, the search for Stone was expanded to Doylestown Township, after the victim of an attempted armed robbery provided a description of his attacker that was similar to the description of Stone.
Upper Perkiomen schools will be closed Tuesday while the manhunt continues.
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