A 76-year-old father reportedly shot and killed his wife and daughter in their Pennsylvania home following a heated argument while he was cleaning his gun.
Roger Hanks was arrested in East Marlborough Township after the bodies of his wife, Judith Hanks, 75, and daughter, Emily Hanks, 37, were found with gunshot wounds, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s office.
Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe stated that the accused killer fatally shot his family over a simple dispute.
Roger Hanks was cleaning his 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun at home when an argument broke out between him and his wife, as per Fox43.
During the argument, he allegedly threatened his wife with the gun, leading to a fatal shot that struck her in the chest.
His daughter witnessed the incident and was shot once through the chest while approaching him in anger.
Hanks confessed to a neighbor about the killings, which led to his arrest and subsequent charges of two counts of first-degree murder.
Despite efforts by medics, both the mother and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.
Hanks admitted to aiming for their chests when firing the handgun and boasted about his shooting skills to the police.
He is currently held without bail at Chester County Prison and faces a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 8, 2024.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Roger Hanks could receive a sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty, although Pennsylvania has not executed anyone since 1999.
Capital punishment remains a legal penalty in the state.
