PENNSBURG: A man killed six people and seriously wounded another in three different homes outside Philadelphia and remained at large hours after the shootings, authorities said on Monday.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman identified the suspect in the shootings in Philadelphia’s northwest suburbs as 35-year-old Bradley William Stone. She said all of the victims had a ‘familial relationship’ to Stone.

On Monday afternoon, police converged on a home in Pennsburg, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and used a megaphone to try to compel an end to their daylong pursuit of Stone. “Bradley, this is the police department!” an officer yelled. “Come to the front door with your hands up. You’re under arrest.”

Ferman said Stone was likely wearing military fatigues and was known to use a cane or walker to assist him.

The shootings occurred at homes in Harleysville, Lansdale and Souderton, three towns that are within a few miles of each other.Neighbors at the first shooting scene in Harleysville said they awoke around 4 a.m. to the sounds of breaking glass and gunshots.

One neighbor, Evon Weron, said the suspect is a former member of the military and that the first victim was his ex-wife. Weron told the Lansdale Reporter the couple had been fighting over custody of children.

Police with armored vehicles and rifles flocked to Pennsburg after spending several hours at the Souderton home where several victims were found.Several school districts ordered students and teachers to shelter in place.—AP

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2014