Authorities say the man charged with fatally shooting a Paradise Township official on Tuesday did not know his victim, and that ongoing disputes with the township over mold, sewage and permits apparently caused the deadly encounter.

After a 30-minute arraignment on a count of homicide, David Green, 72, of Swiftwater told a throng of reporters “I don’t know” when asked why the shooting happened.

Green, his feet wrapped in paper booties and his face hidden by a yellow slicker as he entered a Monroe County district court, remained silent during the proceeding.

State police took Green into custody shortly after they responded to a “shots fired” call inside the township building at 5912 Paradise Valley Road. Authorities say Green was silently waiting for police after he shot and killed 65-year-old Michael Tripus, who had just arrived for his job as the sewage enforcement and backup zoning officer.

During the Tuesday evening hearing before District Judge Phillip Riley, Green kept himself wrapped in the cocoon of yellow plastic. At one point, the judge asked if Green was able to hear him.

“Yes sir,” Green answered quietly.

I don't know why I did it. — Homicide suspect David Green

A Paradise Township employee is dead and a man is in custody after a shooting Tuesday morning Nov. 27, 2018, in the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, community. (WNEP) A Paradise Township employee is dead and a man is in custody after a shooting Tuesday morning Nov. 27, 2018, in the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, community. (WNEP)

State police said Green did not know Tripus, but asked for him when he arrived at the township building and they spoke briefly before Green opened fire. He then put the gun down on Tripus’ desk while his co-workers frantically tried to save him, police said.

According to the court documents, a neighbor told them Green had ongoing issues with the township over mold, septic problems and permits, which police believe to be the motive behind the killing.

The judge ordered Green to be sent to county jail without bail, and as he was led through a scrum of media in the parking lot outside the court, Green said he was sorry for the killing.

“Why did you do it, David?” several reporters shouted at him. “Was it because of mold and permits?”

“I don’t know why I did it,” Green said quietly.

‘Talking about retiring’

Tripus worked for the township two days a week for the past eight years, said Supervisors Chairman Gary Konrath. Tripus was contracted out of Building Inspection Underwriters of Pennsylvania, based in Scranton.

“He was talking about retiring,” said Konrath, who’s approaching his sixth year as chairman.

“I’m pretty shook up,” he said. “You say this a hundred times, but you wouldn’t think it would happen here.”

Members of Tripus’ family could not be reached for comment.

State police were called around 8:20 a.m. to the municipal building, they said in a news release.

According to court records:

Officers arrived and Green was immediately detained. He was put in the rear of a police vehicle while authorities worked to save Tripus, who was not responsive.

A witness, identified as Deborah Brady, said she arrived at the township building for work and saw Tripus parked in the lot waiting to get inside. She said Tripus reviewed plans, made inspections and issued citations.

I have something that went to shit. — David Green, homicide suspect

Butch Comegys / AP David Green, 72, of Swiftwater, Pa., sits in the back of an unmarked police vehicle on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, in Mountainhome, Pa. David Green, 72, of Swiftwater, Pa., sits in the back of an unmarked police vehicle on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, in Mountainhome, Pa. (Butch Comegys / AP)

Brady said Tripus went inside and around 8:10 a.m. she saw a vehicle with a man in the driver’s seat parked next to Tripus’ vehicle.

Brady said she asked Tripus, “Do you know who that is in the parking lot?”

“No idea,” Tripus answered.

Five minutes later, Brady said she saw the man in the vehicle, later identified as Green, come into the building and ask for “Mike.” Brady said she motioned to Tripus and Green went into his office stating, “I have something that went to shit.”

Tripus turned his chair to face Green when Brady said she suddenly heard a gunshot. She called 911 and saw Tripus slumped in his chair, bleeding from his mouth. There was a handgun on Tripus’ desk.

As Brady moved Tripus to the floor to begin CPR, she said Green remained silent, standing in the office until officers arrived and put him in handcuffs.

A second witness, Tina Transue, works as an administrative assistant at the municipal building. She told police that she also saw Green’s vehicle in the parking lot, and after hearing a “loud bang noise,” she saw the wounded Tripus trying to talk, but he could not.

She heard Green saying, “I shot him.”

Police interview suspect

About four hours after the shooting, police interviewed Green at the state police Stroudsburg barracks. They said Green told them he did not want to answer questions and the interview lasted only seven minutes.

But as Green was taken across the hall to the processing room, he told police it didn’t matter, saying “he was under a lot of pressure and was experiencing issues with his new house” that included a mold problem.

A neighbor of Green’s, Barbara Snyder of the 300 block of Sugarbush Road, told police he lived alone and she thought Green was having ongoing problems with the township regarding his home, “including mold, septic problems and has had issues with Paradise Township regarding permits.”

Green said “a lot of little issues, including his health, had started to add up.” Green also spoke about his previous home that burned down in December 2017.

Green confirmed that the victim did not have anything to do with his current issues with his house and the victim had been professional with him. — David Green about the victim, sewage and zoning officer Michael Tripus

According to court records:

During a conversation with a trooper, Green “stated he shot the victim and said he was sorry.” Green also told police he wanted to apologize to the victim’s wife.

Police again interviewed Green and he again apologized for hurting the victim.

“Green stated that he had previous interaction with the victim when he came out to his residence to investigate a septic issue with his neighbor,” but Green said he did not meet Tripus in person.

Green told police he drove to the building to speak to “Mike,” but didn’t have a scheduled meeting. He also told state police he didn’t know what happened and admitted to the shooting.

After the shooting, Green told police that he placed the weapon on Tripus’ desk. Police say Green had a permit for the weapon.

Tripus was not “aggressive towards him and did not threaten him at all,” Green told police. After the shooting, Green said he left the office and sat in the hallway.

“Green confirmed that the victim did not have anything to do with his current issues with his house and the victim had been professional with him.”

Pamela Lehman / The Morning Call Pennsylvania State Police at the corner of Red Rock Road and Paradise Valley Road around 11:30 a.m., a short distance from the Paradise Township municipal building in Monroe County where an employee was killed in a shooting Tuesday morning. Pennsylvania State Police at the corner of Red Rock Road and Paradise Valley Road around 11:30 a.m., a short distance from the Paradise Township municipal building in Monroe County where an employee was killed in a shooting Tuesday morning. (Pamela Lehman / The Morning Call)

‘A wonderful place to live’

Another fatal shooting at a township building happened in August 2013 about 20 miles south in Monroe County. Rockne Newell, a man unhappy with Ross Township officials over zoning issues, went on a shooting rampage at the municipal building, killing three.

The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors issued a statement Tuesday offering condolences to the staff and supervisors of Paradise Township.