Published July 18, 2008 06:21 am - District Attorney Andy Jarbola said Friday he has not determined whether to seek the death penalty against a 25-year-old man charged with shooting three Scranton residents.
3 killed in Scranton shooting; suspect arrested
SCRANTON (AP) _ District Attorney Andy Jarbola said Friday he has not determined whether to seek the death penalty against a 25-year-old man charged with shooting three Scranton residents.
The three bodies were found in a south Scranton residence by police responding to a 911 call just before 7 a.m. Thursday, Scranton Public Safety Director Ray Hayes said.
Randall Rushing, 25, was arrested at a Wilkes-Barre apartment after a daylong search. He was led out the back door, handcuffed and shackled.
In response to questions about the murders, Rushing told reporters: "I had fun."
At his arraignment on homicide charges early Friday, Rushing yawned repeatedly. District Judge James Gibbons told him he had the right to remain silent and advised him to do so.
The three found shot at the Scranton house were identified as Justin Berrios, 21; Dustin Hintz, 22; and Leslie Collier, 16. Four other people, including a 4-year-old boy, were found in the house unharmed.
According to court papers, a woman found tied up in an upstairs bedroom had recently ended a relationship with Rushing.
Police set up surveillance around the Wilkes-Barre apartment building after a car registered to the woman was found parked in the area, police said. A SWAT team swarmed in and arrested Rushing shortly after 4 p.m.
Scranton is in northeastern Pennsylvania, about 100 miles north of Philadelphia.