One Dead In Botched Double Murder/Suicide

"HARRISBURG, PA — A man shot his girlfriend and her mother inside an Ivey Lane apartment early this morning before shooting himself in the face, according to police. The girlfriend, a girl of about 18 or 19, was pronounced dead at the scene according to the Dauphin County coroner.

"Police said the girl's mother was taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds. The alleged gunman was also taken to that same hospital with facial injuries. Both are believed to be in critical condition.

"Police did not immediately release the names of the victims or the alleged shooter and said it's still very early on in the investigation. Police Chief Pierre Ritter said it appears the shootings were the a result of a domestic dispute.

"Investigators said the shooting was reported by a young girl of about 9 or 10, who witnessed the entire incident. They said the women shot were her aunt and grandmother.

"`Very traumatic to a young child to see something like that,` Ritter said, adding the girl was `hysterical` on the phone.

"Another young boy, around the age of 4, is believed to have been inside the home around the time of the shootings. He was not injured and neighbors were able to take him to safety.

"Both police and the coroner said the shooting was especially tragic given that Christmas is just two days away. Coroner Graham Hetrick said a Christmas tree was decorated inside the apartment.

"`What can you say...this is the antithesis of what Christmas should be,` Hetrick said."

From abc27.com...