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William Kelly, 52, has been identified as the Penn State Beaver shooting suspect. He allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife, Lesli Kelly, 49, in the parking lot of the school, after luring her with Christmas presents.
Mr. Kelly reported shot and killed his wife with two .45 caliber handguns before committing suicide. Kelly and his wife had recently divorced and were dealing with child custody issues.
William and Lesli were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.
“Please know that the threat has ended and that your safety and security remain our number one priority. Our campus police are vigilant; please avoid the student union building and food services area until further notice,” Penn State Beaver Chancellor Jenifer S. Cushman wrote on the school’s Facebook page.
https://twitter.com/BCTkate/status/941079937821413377?
Cushman added, “We understand this is a traumatic event for our campus community. Students, faculty and staff who may be in need should contact counseling services at 724-773-3961.”
The shooting reportedly happened in the parking lot of Penn State Beaver College in the Bistro area. Gunfire broke out around 3:40 P.M. EST.
“Beaver County SWAT and Center Township Police were ready to respond but their assistance was not needed,” said Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier.
Penn State Beaver sent out a tweet informing students and faculty that there is no longer a threat on campus. However, they still advise students and faculty to avoid the student union building and food services area for the time being.
https://twitter.com/PennStateBeaver/status/941050245110169601?
According to Emmy award-winning journalist Beau Berman’s Twitter page, state police report that Kelly has fired at least eight shots. He reportedly lured his wife into the parking lot under the pretense that he had Xmas gifts to hand over to their children. But instead of gifts, he pulled out two guns and shot his wife dead before committing suicide.
https://twitter.com/BeauWTAE/status/941102468657803264?
Here’s a message from Penn State President Eric Barron:
https://twitter.com/penn_state/status/941082852900339715?
The shooting reportedly took place outside the Student Union Building at Penn State Beaver College.
According to State Police Lt. Eric Hermick, William and his ex-wife had custody issues. Leslie was a food service worker at Penn State Beaver College. Hermick said that William lured his wife into the parking lot under the pretense that he was going to hand over Xmas present to give their children. Instead of a present, he shot her with a .45 caliber handgun before shooting himself dead.
William and Lesli reportedly had three children together, who are now safe with their relatives, according to Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.
William Kelly was a resident of Hopewell, Pennslyvania. Leslie’s father, Donald Stone describes William as an abusive alcoholic and said that he feared for his daughter’s safety before she divorced William. Stone said, “He was an alcoholic. He was very abusive and he owned a lot of guns.”
Lesli’s fiance, John Ward, said that he made they made at least 50 reports of harassment and intimidation from the now-murder suspect.
Ward said that he witnessed the shooting firsthand, saying “I will never forgive the man that murdered her right in front of my eyes.”
