A tragic event unfolded at a Lowe’s home improvement store near Scranton, Pennsylvania, when an employee allegedly shot and killed a co-worker. The accused, 36-year-old Christopher Wasnetsky, reportedly sent an email to the company’s human resources department before the incident, suggesting that he would not have taken such drastic action if his previous complaints against the victim, Jeffrey Moeller, had been addressed.
Wasnetsky is now facing charges of first- and third-degree murder in connection with Moeller’s death. The incident took place around 12:30 a.m. on a Saturday, when local police were summoned to the Lowe’s store on Viewmont Drive. Upon their arrival, they discovered Moeller, 44, in a pool of blood, suffering from two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the back. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to the hospital, Moeller did not survive his injuries.
In an unexpected twist, Wasnetsky reportedly dialed 911 himself following the shooting. He allegedly confessed to the dispatcher that he was the shooter, attributing his actions to “months of harassment and other things.” However, the store manager informed detectives that they had investigated Wasnetsky’s complaints but found no evidence to support them.
Wasnetsky reportedly told detectives that he had been harassed by Moeller over a period of time and felt that his complaints were not being taken seriously. He allegedly admitted to bringing a handgun to work with the intention of shooting Moeller and then himself. He also claimed to have practiced shooting the gun in his backyard.
Surveillance footage from the store confirmed the sequence of events. The video showed Moeller operating a forklift when Wasnetsky, pushing a shopping cart, approached him. He allegedly pulled out a gun from the cart and shot Moeller from about 5 feet away. Despite Moeller’s attempts to crawl to safety, Wasnetsky allegedly fired more shots.
Contrary to Wasnetsky’s claims, Moeller’s sister, Christina, stated on a GoFundMe page that her brother had reported “ongoing concerns” about Wasnetsky to HR multiple times. She expressed her grief over the loss of her brother, who she described as a loving father and a dedicated worker.
A Lowe’s spokesperson expressed the company’s deep sadness over the incident and assured that they are working closely with law enforcement. Moeller, a father of three daughters, had been working overnight shifts at Lowe’s so he could spend the day with his children.
Wasnetsky is currently being held at the Lackawanna County Prison without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 30.