HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man is charged with shooting and killing a stranger while his own baby was in the room.
Police say Robert Naugle Jr., on New Year’s Eve, walked into his former home, walked past his child in a crib, and spoke no words before shooting and killing another man.
Naugle, 30, is now charged with criminal homicide and is being held at the Westmoreland County Jail without bond.
“There were four kids in the house total, an infant and three sleeping upstairs. For this to happen, and for it to happen when it happened…I can only imagine how traumatic it is for the family members,” said Trooper Steve Limani.
According to police paperwork, Naugle fired 10 shots at Thomas while Thomas was eating dinner with Naugle’s ex-wife. Naugle’s youngest child was in a crib in the same room where the shots were fired.
According to police paperwork, Naugle called 911 himself, saying, “I walked in on my wife with another man, and I killed him.”
According to police paperwork, Naugle’s ex-wife told investigators he filed for divorce in November and had moved out of the home two days before the shooting.
“It could have been someone working on the house! The fact that it was just a person sitting there eating food,” Trooper Limani said.
James Thomas was a longtime member of the Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department in Brandenville. Chief Piantine got emotional when speaking about the 12-year-old son Thomas leaves behind.
“He grew up here,” Chief Piantine said. “He is a young kid, and he has come to a call with his dad, and his hope was to follow in his dad’s steps. I guess it’s up to us to take in Landon for his dad.”
The department plans to hold a memorial service for Thomas on Tuesday evening, and his funeral will be on Wednesday.
“In one fell swoop, Mr. Naugle makes it so there is two families now…one doesn’t have a father, and the other is going to be locked up in the Westmoreland County Jail," Trooper Limani said.
Naugle is set to face a judge on Jan. 14.
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