CARBON COUNTY, Pa. (AP) — Police in Pennsylvania say a man dressed in a “Scream” mask killed his neighbor with a chainsaw and knife and is now facing murder charges.
State police have responded to a high-profile gun attack case in Lehighton.
The victim, Edward Whitehead, was found at his home on Carbon St. with life-threatening injuries after being hit with a chainsaw and knife. Whitehead was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital – Carbon Campus, where investigators say he succumbed to his injuries and died.
“As a result of the investigation we were able to identify the suspect. The suspect’s space was surrounded by a perimeter and, through fruitful negotiations, the suspect was released and taken into custody without incident,” Petroski said.
According to Petroski, the suspect, known as 30-year-old Zak Moyer, was wearing an all-black suit and mask worn by the character from the horror movie “Scream. “
“After all, he went out, there was communication between him and the infantrymen at the scene and he himself opened the door and left of his own free will,” Petroski said.
Moyer is charged with criminal homicide.
Court documents allege that Moyer admitted to stabbing Whitehead in the head with the knife, before returning to watch a movie until police arrived. According to the offender’s complaint, Moyer admitted to hiding the chainsaw in the attic and putting the knife in a drawer. .
Police questioned Moyer’s sister, who said he informed her he wanted to kill her neighbor a week ago.
WOLF spoke to a stunned neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
“I feared for my grandchildren at the time because we were all told to stay inside the space and keep the doors closed,” the neighbor said. “My granddaughter was walking home from school when the police flew in. He’s in the third degree and petrified. “
Moyer admitted to police that he intended to murder Whitehead because of the crimes he believed he had committed. A search warrant at Moyer’s home included a black knife, chainsaw, suit and mask.
He has recently been incarcerated at the Carbon County Correctional Center. An initial hearing is scheduled for April 3.