According to the police officials, the 53-year-old suspect was charged with the murder of a United States employee. Prosecutors say the man shot a mailman to death, while he was on duty, because the thought the postal worker poisoned him and his family. The suspect allegedly said: “I knew his mail route and went to put some bullets in him.”
His name is Eric Kortz and he allegedly told authorities that he shot and killed Louis Vignone because he thought that the mailman and his family had poisoned him and his family with cyanide when they were neighbors.
This unfortunate incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. on Thursday. The suspect from Pennsylvania shot the victim and then turned himself in. He allegedly dropped the firearm after shooting the victim, got into his van and drove to the police department.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene from several gunshot wounds, including one to the head. Police say he was wearing his USPS uniform and working his shift when he was fatally wounded.
Authorities say the victim was planning to retire from his postal service job after the winter season. Vignone had been a mail carrier in the neighborhood for about 15 years.
Authorities say the victim and the suspect were neighbors. Vignone and his family reportedly moved away from Kortz three years ago because he believed the suspect was becoming increasingly paranoid about them. Kortz faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. This is a developing story and it will be updated as new information become available.