Man fatally shots woman in Warren County, dies after suffering medical emergency, prosecutor says
COLUMBIA, NJ (Warren County) – A Pennsylvania man who is suspected of fatally shooting a woman in Warren County, died after suffering a medical emergency while in police custody Monday night, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Feb. 12, at around 7:49 p.m., the Warren County Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 3 Columbia St. in Columbia, authorities said.
The investigation revealed that earlier in the day Armond Anthony Avitable, 38, of East Stroudsburg was involved in a domestic dispute with a female at his residence. He was required to vacate the residence and then called an acquaintance, identified as Kevin Schilling of 3 Columbia St, seeking a place to stay, the prosecutor’s office said.
Schilling traveled to Avitable’s residence in East Stroudsburg and then accompanied him back to his home where he resides with his wife 58-year-old Cheryl Schilling, authorities said.
Both arrived at the residence at around 6:00 p.m. and shortly thereafter a dispute arose between the Schilling’s and Avitable, who became agitated and aggressive, the prosecutor’s office said.
Avitable retrieved a pump action shot gun from the downstairs area of the home and then fired a shot. The Schilling’s at that time retreated to an upstairs bedroom and closed the door, authorities said.
Avitable followed the Schilling’s upstairs with the shot gun and proceeded to the upstairs bedroom. He then opened the door and fired two shot gun blasts. Cheryl was stuck in her arm and upper left torso, the prosecutor’s office said.
Medical aid was provided to Cheryl at the scene however, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at around 8:28 p.m. Her death has been ruled a homicide by Dr. Wang of the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office as a result of a gunshot wound to the torso, authorities said.
Avitable then exited the home into the back/side yard at which time he saw the neighbors who had been enjoying an outdoor fire. He began to explain to them that “he (Avitable) had to shoot her because he (Mr. Schilling) was coming for him,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Avitable then fired two additional shot gun blasts at the Schilling’s home. He then left the gun on the neighbor’s property and fled the area, authorities said.
Avitable was located by the New Jersey State Police a short distance away in the area of the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 46. He then engaged the New Jersey State troopers in a physical altercation. He was subdued and taken into custody, the prosecutor’s office said.
Upon being taken into custody, Avitable had a medical emergency. CPR and medical aid was rendered and he was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono where was pronounced dead at around 9:01 p.m., authorities said.
His cause and manner of death are currently under investigation, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office conducts investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a state grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
The investigation remains ongoing, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office said.
