Pocono News Section

Police Say Man Killed Son on Father's Day

Police Say Man Killed Son on Father's Day - Monday, June 22, 2009 at 5:15PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Jun 22, 2009 @ 05:15pm EST
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - A Pocono neighborhood is trying to understand why Father's Day turned tragic. Police say a man shot his own son to death. Bernard Uckele is behind bars.

When you walk up to the Uckele house on Adams Drive in Jackson Township, you see a warning. A sign tells you cameras are rolling to catch any crimes on the property. But who would have thought someone trying to protect his land so well, might become a criminal himself.

Police say Bernard Uckele shot his son Justin to death Sunday. Bernard told officers he stood just three feet away from Justin when he pulled the trigger on a ..44 magnum revolver. Justin was 19 years old.

Manny Lopez lives nearby. He said he's in shock. He added, "Family is to be loved and cared for not to abuse or hurt - especially when you talk about killing your own flesh and blood."

William Dominguez also lives nearby. He heard a lot of shouting Sunday. He said, "A few minutes later you could see the State Police taking off down the road."

The police were chasing Bernard. They eventually caught up with him and arrested him. Some neighbors said they're not surprised at what happened here the neighborhood has been going downhill.

Dominguez explained, "It's gotten a little crazy around here lately. We've had a few break ins where people's cars have been broken into and a gentleman's house was broken into last year."

Dominguez said it takes too long for State Police to respond to crimes. Jackson Township doesn't have a local police force. But Lopez said family disagreements shouldn't have to end with a police call. He said, "You love them and you care for them and you raise them and you feed them and you clothe them - but you don't hurt them and you definitely don't kill your family."

Police say the fight started with some sort of disagreement between the victim's girlfriend and the victim's sister. Both lived in the Uckele house. Officers didn't say why the women were fighting.