A Lowe’s employee shot a fellow employee to death early Saturday morning at the Scranton store, according to a criminal complaint.
Christopher Wasnetsky of Dalton is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He told police during an interview that his coworker Jeff Moeller had been harassing him and no one would do anything about it. Wasnetsky said he bought a handgun with the intent to shoot Moeller and practiced using it in his backyard.
Wasnetsky called in the shooting, stating, “I’d like to report a shooting at the Dickson City Lowe’s. I was the person that did it,” according to a criminal complaint.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher anticipates more charges to be filed Monday following an autopsy.
Wasnetsky (SUBMITTED)
Scranton police officers responded to Lowe’s on Viewmont Drive in Scranton at 12:36 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.
Police said they found Jeff Moeller on the ground in a pool of blood amidst multiple bullet casings. Moeller suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
There was a semi-automatic handgun on the ground near a shopping cart about 30 feet from the victim. The handgun appeared to be unloaded. There was a live round on the ground and a magazine next to the handgun. The handgun was found to be a Springfield 9mm.
Officers transported Moeller to Geisinger Community Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Officers found Wasnetsky at the entrance to the store, arrested him without incident and brought him back to the Police Department.
Wasnetsky told police he had approached Moeller while he was working on a machine and shot him in the chest without warning.
He said Moeller fell to the ground and asked for help.
Wasnetsky told police he didn’t want him to suffer, so he shot him in the head and chest.
Wasnetsky, 36, remains at Lackawanna County Prison awaiting a court proceedings.