Why does no one tell us the guns/model ammo used and who shot whom with what? Reporters are the worst

FYI, looking at the PCG site, the Erie range is currently closed until further notice. Only one in the state with that listing, so clearly not 'vid related.

Still a crime scene, I suppose. And who knows what sort of cleanup they might need to do. (If it's like all the others, it's pretty much entirely a dirt range with simple chest-height wood benches at the pistol range.)

Are there no RSO's at PA Game Commission ranges? If there are, why did the "bystander" have to pull the murderer-wannabe's plug? Isn't this kind of thing exactly why RSO's are armed?

There are no RSOs at state-owned public shooting ranges in Arkansas. Sounds like Pennsylvania is similar.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
A motive in the shooting "is completely unknown," Weindorf said Wednesday. Investigators have so far been unable to identify any issue between the two men to explain why the shooting happened, he said.

...At one point Eppley had the gun and had just fired five rounds when he turned and began firing the weapon at the 28-year-old man, who was standing about 10 feet from him, "for no apparent reason," Weindorf said.

Why did this happen? That's what investigators are paid to find out. Until then and the information is shared with the public, it's open to speculation.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
There are no RSOs at state-owned public shooting ranges in Arkansas. Sounds like Pennsylvania is similar.

Correct. Usually adjoining PA Game Commission or State parkland, so Park Rangers or State Police also investigate complaints and keep eye out. Few years ago state required either hunting lisc or permit to use range, but they remained a sketchy place as the safety-challenged or beginners would often go there to shoot. Last I visited (may have changed) they even had posted rules about only 3 rounds in firearm, which is why I joined private range. Article said perp had already fired 5 rds...

This is why I belong to a private club.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
This is why I belong to a private club.

I belonged to a private club for a couple years. Given the way the indoor and outdoor ranges got shot up, some of the stuff that same up at general meetings, and particularly Board meetings: "Private club" was scant comfort.

I was particularly "amused" by the members that openly admitted they liked to stop into the bar for a quick one to settle their nerves before shooting

The plain fact is there are idiots out there. Some of them either own firearms or will occasionally come into possession of same. Private clubs are not immune to this.

Here's an updated article with very little new info and still no motive.

https://www.goerie.com/story/n...ear-erie/4037927001/

Police focusing on why friend fired on other at gun range before bystander killed shooter

Tim Hahn
Erie Times-News
12:20PM, Dec 24, 2020

Pennsylvania State Police investigators are still trying to understand why a North East man who met up with a friend at a Greene Township gun range to test a new pistol on Tuesday afternoon turned the weapon on his friend and fired it repeatedly before a bystander fatally shot him.

"At this point, we are continuing to investigate the back story, the relationship between these two individuals, to determine why the shooting occurred," Lt. Mark Weindorf, crime section supervisor for state police Troop E, said Thursday morning.

Weindorf referenced the relationship between 26-year-old Robert A. Eppley, who died after being shot by the bystander; and a 28-year-old Erie man, whom Eppley is accused of shooting multiple times. Authorities have not released the name of the 28-year-old or the bystander.

The 28-year-old Erie man was treated at UPMC Hamot for his gunshot wounds and was released from the hospital on Tuesday night.

The man who state police said shot Eppley, identified only as a 67-year-old Erie resident, apparently had no connection to Eppley or his friend, according to investigators.

Weindorf said Thursday that the ongoing probe into Tuesday's incident is essentially two separate investigations: the first involving Eppley''s shooting of his friend, and the second the fatal shooting of Eppley.

Investigators have interviewed Eppley's friend and the 67-year-old Erie man, as well as several other people who were also at the gun range at the time.

No charges had been filed in the incident as of Thursday. The gun range remains closed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

State police have said that Eppley and the 28-year-old Erie man met at the State Game Lands 109 gun range at 10679 Sampson Road in Greene Township after traveling in separate vehicles with their girlfriends on Tuesday afternoon. Weindorf said Wednesday that one of the men had just purchased a new pistol and they wanted to shoot it.

According to Weindorf, Eppley had the gun at one point and fired several rounds down range before he turned to the 28-year-old Erie man, who was standing about 10 feet from him, and began firing the weapon at him.

The 67-year-old man witnessed Eppley shooting the Erie man and fired his weapon at Eppley, Weindorf said.

Erie County Deputy Coroner John Maloney pronounced Eppley dead at the scene at 3:11 p.m. Tuesday, a little more than an hour after the shooting was first reported to state police. An autopsy performed by Erie County forensic pathologist Eric Vey, M.D., on Wednesday afternoon determined that Eppley died of gunshot wounds to the torso, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said.

Cook ruled the death a homicide. There have been 14 deaths in Erie County that the county Coroner's Office has ruled as homicide so far this year. The fatal shooting of a 13-year-old Erie resident Kasir Gambill, who was shot in the city on Dec. 5 but later died in Pittsburgh, is also being investigated as a homicide.


Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.

This was just a couple towns away from us. I don't have any details but sad for everyone involved. I heard that there were shooters at the adjacent rifle range who also heard / witnessed the incident.

I shot at the Sampson Road range quite a few times when I first moved to PA before I joined a private range. There was actually one time where I was a little less than comfortable with the way a couple of other shooters were eyeballing my hardware and we left the range early.

Belonging to a private club won’t help if the one who shoots you is a friend or acquaintance or anyone else who has equal access. That’s what happened to Chris Kyle and friend.

I prefer not to shoot at a public shooting range when it’s being used by random strangers, and fortunately usually don’t have to, but this was an unforeseeable event that had nothing to do with any of that. In fact, much of the time I shoot at a remote rural range when no one else is around at all, and according the Massad Ayoob, that’s something I shouldn’t do either.

The PGC ranges have had the rounds loaded restriction as long as I can remember (almost 20 years). 3 rounds loaded in a rifle and 6 in a handgun. These ranges are/were primarily sighting ranges for hunting season, hence the archaic restrictions...just like everything else PHC hunting related.

No RSOs as said, but the wardens do show up from time to time, especially during weekends. Seen them toss people for having too many rounds in a magazine (and by people, I mean me...). Maintenance guys show up to check the trash with some frequency. But this is at the Carlisle Springs location which is generally pretty well used. This Erie one might have been less well trafficked.

"Oh that was fun, let me try some other things I've seen on Tv" ?

Does anyone know if there is any update on this story?

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Does anyone know if there is any update on this story?

Nope. I've been checking the local paper, no new articles since what I posted on Dec 24.

https://www.goerie.com/news/crime/

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

Nope. I've been checking the local paper, no new articles since what I posted on Dec 24.

https://www.goerie.com/news/crime/

Thanks. It will likely turn out to be something simple, but has the elements of a good murder mystery.

"FBI agent Dana Scully, M.D. seen leaving the building with Dr. Eric Vey had no comment.

A proof copy of the Coroner's report found by this reporter has been heavily redacted."

Very strange incident- Epply appears to have a military background as a Marine. PTSD perhaps?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/w...=197368464&fhid=8573

What did the girlfriends say?

Here's the latest article, still no specifics.

https://www.goerie.com/story/n...un-range/4085508001/

Erie DA's Office to review state police probe into double shooting, death at gun range

Tim Hahn
Erie Times-News
9:01AM Jan 2, 2021

The Erie County District Attorney's Office is expected soon to review the Pennsylvania State Police investigation into a double shooting at a Greene Township gun range in which a North East man is accused of shooting his friend before a bystander fatally shot the man on Dec. 22.

District Attorney Jack Daneri on Thursday said he has been in contact with state police investigators since the day of the shooting, which led to the death of 26-year-old Robert A. Eppley.

Daneri said state police investigators are in the process of getting all of their reports and the videotaped interviews of witnesses to the event to his office. Daneri and his staff will review the case once they have all of the information.

Daneri said last week that he anticipates the review happening sometime in the first week of January.

Investigating troopers are still completing a couple of follow-up interviews, state police Sgt. Matthew Bly said on Wednesday.

No one has been charged in the double shooting, which happened at the State Game Lands 109 gun range at 10679 Sampson Road in Greene Township. A decision on whether any criminal charges will be filed against anyone in the incident is expected to be announced once the District Attorney's Office completes its review of the case.

According to state police, Eppley; a 28-year-old Erie man who they said was friends with Eppley; and their two girlfriends traveled to the gun range on the afternoon of Dec. 22 to shoot a pistol that one person in the group had just purchased.

The group was taking turns shooting the weapon. At one point Eppley had the gun and had fired shots downrange before he turned to the 28-year-old Erie man, who was standing about 10 feet away, and began firing the weapon at him, state police said.

The Erie man was struck multiple times by the gunfire, investigators said.

A 67-year-old Erie man nearby saw Eppley shooting the other man and fired his weapon at Eppley, according to state police.

Eppley was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined that he died of gunshot wounds to the torso, said Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook, who ruled the death a homicide.

The man state police said was shot multiple times by Eppley was taken to UPMC Hamot for treatment and was released from the hospital later in the day on Dec. 22. There were no other injuries reported in the incident.

State police have not released any other details in the incident, including the names of the wounded man and the 67-year-old Erie man and who had purchased the gun. Additional details are expected to be released after the District Attorney's Office's review, investigators said.

State police on Dec. 24 said troopers were still investigating the relationship between Eppley and the man he is accused of shooting in an effort to determine why the shooting occurred.

The State Lame Lands 109 gun range was still listed as closed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website late last week.


Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.