Snow Shoveling Argument Sets Off Double Murder-Suicide in Pennsylvania Neighborhood

Three residents in Pennsylvania are dead from a murder-suicide following an argument about shoveling snow.

The deadly confrontation went down on Monday when Plains Township police received a call just before 9 a.m. about shots fired in a residential neighborhood, AP News reports.

When officers arrived, they found James Goy, 50, and Lisa Goy, 48, dead in the street in front of their home. Officers attempted to aid the couple and knocked on the door of 47-year-old James Spaide, who lived across the street.

However, they heard a single shot and found his body upon entering the home. Neighbors told officials the Goys and Spaide were in an ongoing feud that appeared to turn violent following the recent winter snowstorm, ABC News reports.

In a joint statement, Plains Township Police Chief Dale Binker and Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis revealed the neighbors disagreed about where the Goys were placing the snow they were shoveling.

“The Goys were shoveling the snow from their parking spots, shoveling the snow across the road, and throwing the snow onto Spaide’s property,” the statement revealed.

The argument between the Goys and Spaide was caught on a surveillance video.

“The Goys proceed to yell at him, and, using expletives, the parties called each other names. Mr. Goy then threatened Spaide and is seen making obscene gestures at him. Seconds later, Spaide returns holding a handgun,” the statement continued.

Although Spaide was armed, the couple reportedly continued the argument, and he fired at them multiple times. Binker revealed between 15 to 20 shots were fired.

In the preliminary investigation, Salavantis learned the neighbors had previous issues, and the argument that took place on Monday “was exacerbated by a disagreement over snow disposal.”

While there are no records of issues between Spaide and the Goys, Binker said there may have been a previous issue between the residents over the “placement of snow in somebody’s yard.”