Pottsville Shooting...
Two people are dead after a murder/suicide in Pottsville Friday
afternoon.
According to Pottsville police, Frank Manganiello, 51, of Schuylkill
Haven
shot and killed his girlfriend Sandra Pucci, 49, Pottsville, in the
Social
Security office parking lot on West Market Street about noon Friday.
Pottsville Police Chief Joseph H. Murton said the shooter fled in his
own
vehicle to First United Methodist Church at Fourth and West Market
streets,
where he took his own life at the altar.
Pucci, who was taken to a hospital, also died.
According to police, Pucci worked at the Way Mart Food Store in the
Yorkville section of Pottsville. After an altercation there, the couple
went
into the parking lot of the Social Security office where a single shot
was
fired.
State and local police blocked off vehicle and pedestrian traffic from
the
block where the church stands and were posted outside, with weapons
poised,
for more than a half an hour.
At least 30 people were inside the church when the gunman arrived,
according
to Rev. Storm Hutchinson. He said a women's group was meeting at the
time,
and another small group was also inside the building. They were seen
exiting
the building with their hands raised.
Hutchinson said he was in his office about 60 feet away from the altar.
"I heard the gunshot," Hutchinson told The Republican-Herald.
All those in the church escaped safely, he said. Hutchinson also said to
his
knowledge, the gunman had no direct connection to First United Methodist
Church.
"Someone asked me if this man went to our church. My response was, 'I
wish
he had,'" Hutchinson said. "I wish we could have reached him."
Hutchinson said a special prayer and healing service will be held at the
church at 7 p.m. Saturday.
He extended his condolences to all those involved.
Maganiello was the owner of Fresco's Italian Pizzeria at Sharp Mountain
Plaza.
For further details, keep visiting republicanherald.com and read
Saturday's
edition of The Republican-Herald.
afternoon.
According to Pottsville police, Frank Manganiello, 51, of Schuylkill
Haven
shot and killed his girlfriend Sandra Pucci, 49, Pottsville, in the
Social
Security office parking lot on West Market Street about noon Friday.
Pottsville Police Chief Joseph H. Murton said the shooter fled in his
own
vehicle to First United Methodist Church at Fourth and West Market
streets,
where he took his own life at the altar.
Pucci, who was taken to a hospital, also died.
According to police, Pucci worked at the Way Mart Food Store in the
Yorkville section of Pottsville. After an altercation there, the couple
went
into the parking lot of the Social Security office where a single shot
was
fired.
State and local police blocked off vehicle and pedestrian traffic from
the
block where the church stands and were posted outside, with weapons
poised,
for more than a half an hour.
At least 30 people were inside the church when the gunman arrived,
according
to Rev. Storm Hutchinson. He said a women's group was meeting at the
time,
and another small group was also inside the building. They were seen
exiting
the building with their hands raised.
Hutchinson said he was in his office about 60 feet away from the altar.
"I heard the gunshot," Hutchinson told The Republican-Herald.
All those in the church escaped safely, he said. Hutchinson also said to
his
knowledge, the gunman had no direct connection to First United Methodist
Church.
"Someone asked me if this man went to our church. My response was, 'I
wish
he had,'" Hutchinson said. "I wish we could have reached him."
Hutchinson said a special prayer and healing service will be held at the
church at 7 p.m. Saturday.
He extended his condolences to all those involved.
Maganiello was the owner of Fresco's Italian Pizzeria at Sharp Mountain
Plaza.
For further details, keep visiting republicanherald.com and read
Saturday's
edition of The Republican-Herald.