Patrick L. Robinson, Wayne County District Attorney, announced the arrest of Shawn Birtel, age 47, of Hawley for numerous felonies related to a shooting in Hawley Borough during the early morning hours of April 24, 2018.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Collins the shooting occurred at approximately 2:00 am in the morning at Birtel’s residence. There were 5 named victims including several children present. A 20 year old victim had called 911 to report the defendant was intoxicated and had grabbed an assault style weapon from under his mattress and was trying to find ammunition for the weapon while saying “I’m going to kill them all”. Eventually the assault weapon was taken from the defendant. The defendant later demanded his rifle back and then obtained another firearm and began shooting from his bedroom. The five victims eventually locked themselves in an upstairs bedroom. The defendant then proceeded to go to the door of the bedroom where the victims were hiding. He banged on the door trying to gain entrance. The victims then employed an “emergency ladder” to escape from a second story window. The victims then met the State Police who were enroute to the scene.

The defendant was arrested and charged with six (6) counts of Aggravated Assault, and one (1) Count of Discharge of a Firearm into an Occupied Structure, all Felonies. The defendant was also charged with sixteen (16) Misdemeanors including Terroristic Threats, Endangering the Welfare of Children and Simple Assault.

The defendant was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie Carney who set bail at $300,000.00.

D.A. Robinson stated, “The State Troopers out of the Honesdale and Blooming Grove Barracks made a quick response to this senseless incident. We are very lucky that no one was injured or killed. This case is just another sad reminder that firearms and alcohol do not mix.”