Pocono News Section

Father Accused of Murder on Father's Day

Father Accused of Murder on Father's Day - Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 11:27PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 @ 11:27pm EST
JACKSON TWP., MONROE COUNTY- A 19-year-old is dead and state police say he was shot to death by his own father on Father's Day. It happened Sunday afternoon in Monroe County.

Bernard Uckelle said nothing as he was led out of the State Police barracks in Fern Ridge. Investigators say he shot and killed his 19-year-old son Justin in the chest inside a garage at a home on Adams Drive in Jackson Township just after noon on Sunday.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Robert Bartal said, “Everyone that was involved in that incident has been questioned and we believe we have the person responsible for the shooting in custody and he acted alone."

Investigators spent all day on the scene. They say the deadly dispute started with a fight between the victim's girlfriend and sister. That's when the 19-year-old came home.

“Initially, it did not look like our male victim was involved or even home. When he arrived home, the incident escalated to a shooting," described Bartal.

Police still don't know why Uckele pulled the trigger. After the shooting he took off in his pick-up truck but was later caught. “The actor was observed by one of the responding units and they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. There was a pursuit involved and they eventually got the vehicle stopped," said Bartal.

Bernard Uckele is facing criminal homicide charges. He's locked-up without bail in Monroe County.