85-Year-Old Who Shot And Killed PA Home Intruder Learns Victim Was Family Member

Don Lutz, the 85-year-old veteran who shot and killed one of two home intruders in Lawrence County, PA., early Friday morning has learned the dead man is his nephew-in-law, Dennis Mercadante.

Pennsylvania State Police say they used facial recognition to identify, Mercadante, 49, as the suspect shot and killed by Lutz.

Investigators said Lutz was confronted by two intruders, Mercadante and another suspect, about 1:30 a.m. Friday at his Jamison Avenue home, authorities said. An altercation followed.

“I just fired one. It was in the dark. He attacked me and he was up close and I shot him,” Lutz said. “They jumped me and we both went on the floor. I scuffled with them on the floor and the one guy rolled over dead and the other guy, he jumped up and went out the door,” Lutz said. source

Police are still searching for the second suspect, who fled the scene.

Lutz had earlier expressed to the press his satisfaction with killing the suspect saying he hoped he had struck the second suspect as well. “The other one, maybe the bullet hit him, too. I don’t know. I hope so,” Lutz commented to members of the media.

The senior has not commented since learning he in-fact shot dead an extended family member.