A Pennsylvania man, aged 76, is in police custody after allegedly shooting his wife and daughter during a heated argument in their home. The suspect, identified as Roger Hanks, was arrested on Thursday evening in East Marlborough Township. The victims, his wife Judith Hanks, 75, and daughter Emily Hanks, 37, were found dead from gunshot wounds, as reported by the Chester County District Attorney’s office.
The District Attorney, Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, stated that the accused had “senselessly shot and killed his family over a basic dispute.” The incident reportedly occurred while Hanks was cleaning his 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun around 3 p.m. An argument broke out between Hanks and his wife, which escalated to the point where he allegedly threatened her with the gun.
According to charging documents, Hanks warned his wife during the argument, “If you keep up, this thing is going to go off on you.” As the dispute continued, he allegedly pointed the gun at her and threatened to shoot her if she didn’t leave him alone. The gun then discharged, fatally wounding his wife in the chest.
Emily Hanks, who witnessed her mother’s shooting, reportedly “went into a rage.” Hanks is accused of shooting his daughter once in the chest as she charged at him in anger.
Hanks later allegedly confessed to a neighbor that he had killed his family, leading her to call the police around 6 p.m. He was arrested without incident and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related offenses. Despite the arrival of medics, both mother and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.
During his arrest, Hanks allegedly admitted to investigators that he had intentionally aimed for their chests when he fired the gun. He also reportedly boasted about his shooting skills, claiming to be “best of the best” and a regular participant in shooting competitions.
Hanks is currently being held at the Chester County Prison without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 8, 2024. If convicted of the two counts of first-degree murder, Hanks could face life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Capital punishment is legal in Pennsylvania, although the state has not carried out an execution since 1999.