HONESDLE -- Wayne County District Attorney Patrick L. Robinson announced the arrest of Shawn Birtel, 47, of Hawley for numerous Felonies related to a shooting in Hawley Borough during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 24.
According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by State Trooper Michael Collins, the shooting occurred at approximately 2 o’clock in the morning at Birtel’s residence along Route 6. The incident involved five named victims, including several children.
Trooper Collins said a 20-year-old victim had called 911 to report that Birtel was intoxicated and had grabbed an assault-style weapon from under his mattress and was trying to find ammunition for the weapon while saying, “I’m going to kill them all.” Eventually the assault weapon was taken from him.
However, Police say Birtel later demanded his rifle back and then obtained another firearm and began shooting from his bedroom. The five victims eventually locked themselves in an upstairs bedroom, where Birtel allegedly banged on the door trying to gain entrance.
The victims then employed an “emergency ladder” to escape from a second story window. The victims then met the State Police when they arrived on the scene.
Birtel was take into custody and charged with six counts of Aggravated Assault, and one Count of Discharge of a Firearm into an Occupied Structure, all Felonies. He was also charged with 16 misdemeanor counts including terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie Carney, who set bail at $300,000.
DA Robinson said, “The State Troopers out of the Honesdale and Blooming Grove Barracks made a quick response to this senseless incident. We are very lucky that no one was injured or killed. This case is just another sad reminder that firearms and alcohol do not mix.”