Heather Yakin

hyakin@th-record.com

PORTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Authorities in Pennsylvania have charged a Porter Township man with shooting and killing his father, Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin said on Thursday.

According to Tonkin’s office, Ryan Paige, 30, fired a gun at his father, Robert Paige, and the elder Paige’s live-in girlfriend, Jennifer Gencarelli about 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday at the couple’s home. Robert Paige was struck by at least one bullet and was taken to Lehigh Valley Pocono Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Porter Township is about 30 miles west of Port Jervis.

Officials said Gencarelli and her two daughters, 10 and 12, who were also in the home, were not physically injured.

Tonkin said Ryan and Robert Paige were estranged following an argument about three years ago.

On Tuesday, Gencarelli and Ryan Paige’s live-in girlfriend argued at a bus stop where the local school was delivering meals to children.

According to officials, Gencarelli told police she was awakened Wednesday morning by her dogs’ barking, and she heard a vehicle outside. She woke Robert Paige, and they looked out the bedroom window. Officials said Gencarelli saw Ryan Paige pointing a firearm from the vehicle, and then heard at least three shots. Gencarelli told police she heard Robert Paige say he had been shot, and then say “Why would he do this?”

Pennsylvania State Police handled the investigation, and arrested Ryan Paige at his home about a half-mile away. Police said when troopers arrived, he was armed and had fully loaded magazines, and wore a ballistic vest. Police said Ryan Paige admitted to a trooper that he was involved in the shooting.

Police charged Ryan Paige with murder, attempted murder, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, two counts of possession of instruments of crime, and four counts of recklessly endangering another person.

A magistrate arraigned Ryan Paige and sent him to the Pike County Correctional Facility without bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing on April 14.