Ross Township Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 3 Injured; Alleged Shooter Rockne Newell Was Angered Over Property Dispute
The monthly supervisors meeting of Ross Township, Pa., took a deadly turn after an enraged gunman began "shooting randomly" into a crowd of terrified local officials and citizens this past Monday. Monroe County police have identified the shooter as Rockne Newell, 59, who has been in the middle of a land dispute with the Ross Township board of supervisors.
Pocono Record reporter Chris Rebar was attending the monthly meeting where he observed 15 to 18 seated in the rectangular room. According to Rebar's eyewitness account, Newell began firing through the wall of the building using a pistol with a scope. Moments later, Newell had made his way into the room and continued firing.
"It was automatic, like a string of firecrackers. That's what everyone said. There were real heroes here. People who did not consider their own lives in protecting others," Rebar explained.
"I didn't see blood when I left. It wasn't real to me until I went back inside and saw people bleeding."
In the wake of the shooting, three individuals have been killed and at least two more have been injured, the Associated Press reported. Newell's rampage finally ended when he returned to his car after the first round of shooting to retrieve more ammunition. During a scuffle, Bernie Kozen, who is the West End Park and Open Space Commission executive director, was able to subdue the shooter and even managed to turn the weapon on Newell.
After he was treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg, Newell was released into the custody of Monroe police. Two of his victims were pronounced dead at the scene while a third passed away in a nearby hospital. Another victim required surgery while Newell's fifth victim was only grazed by one of the bullets.
Newell was ordered to vacate his property in August 2012 after the Monroe County Court sided with Ross Township over the ongoing land dispute. Town officials said that Newell's dilapidated property was in direct violation of zoning and sewage regulations.