Death On The Altar

"POTTSVILLE, PA - A man shot his girlfriend in the parking lot of the Social Security office in Pottsville around noon today, according to authorities. They say police then followed the gunman, identified as Frank Manganiello, 51, of Schuylkill Haven, from the Social Security office in the 2200 block of West Market to the First United Methodist Church at West Market and 4th.

"The district attorney says Manganiello went inside the church and shot and killed himself on the altar.

"`The indications are when he got out of his vehicle, he had a handgun and he pointed it toward his head like he was going to take his own life,` said Jim Goodman, Schuylkill County District Attorney. `So when he got in the church, obviously the Pottsville police had to secure the scene. There were individuals in the church. They had to get those individuals out of the church and make sure everyone was safe.`

"In the meantime, the girlfriend, Sandra Pucci, 49, of Pottsville, was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown. She died there a short time later.

"Goodman says Manganiello, who owned a pizza shop in Pottsville, was recently freed on bail after being charged with breaking into Pucci's house. He says she had a protection from abuse order against him.

"Goodman says the Social Security office shares a parking lot with the convenience store where Pucci works. He says he's not aware of any connection between Manganiello and the church in which he shot himself."

From WFMZ.com...