Postman shot dead in Collier township by former neighbor who believed he was poisoned – WPXI

COLLIER TOWNSHIP, Pa .– A postal worker was shot and killed Thursday morning in Collier Township, police said.

The shooting took place shortly after 10 a.m. in the area of ​​Columbia and Suburban avenues.

Late Thursday afternoon, federal officials announced that Eric M. Kortz had been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting.

Government officials said they plan to demand that Kortz be held without bail.

What investigators said happened Thursday morning

The victim has been identified as Louis Vignone, 58. Federal investigators said he was in his marked US Postal Service vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of several shots, including one to the head. At the time of the shooting, Vignone was wearing his uniform and working as a postman.

Investigators found a gun and seven used shell casings in a yard near the postal vehicle.

Officers said Kortz was taken to Allegheny County Police Headquarters for questioning after confessing to the murder. Officials said Kortz told them he shot Vignone because he believed Vignone and his family poisoned Kortz and Kortz’s family with cyanide when they were neighbors in the Sheraden neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Vignone and her family moved three years ago to get away from Kortz, who was becoming increasingly paranoid and obsessed with them.

Kortz said he found Vignone on his postal route near the intersection of Columbia and Suburban avenues, walked towards the postal vehicle and stopped in front of it. He allegedly told Vignone that he “was going to put bullets on him”. He said he then dropped the gun and went to the police station.

“Why? Why would anyone have something against him? It’s not fair. It’s not true. This world is sad. People don’t need to do that kind of thing,” he said. said Debbie Bach who lives nearby.

Kortz faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. He appeared expressionless during a brief virtual court proceeding Thursday evening. He has been charged with the murder of a United States employee and possession of a firearm for the purpose of a felony.

He will then appear before a judge on October 12 at 3 p.m.

What Channel 11 found at the filming location

A sheet was draped over a USPS truck, which had bullet holes in the windshield when Channel 11 arrived at the scene.

Kortz was taken into custody in Carnegie after surrendering to the police station.

A crime scene tape was seen around the Carnegie Police Department, where several other departments, including Collier Township, Scott Township, Green Tree and Bridgeville, also responded.

Police also placed a crime scene tape around Kortz’s van, which he used to get to the Carnegie Police Department.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials said the shooting investigation would be handled by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The last time a letter carrier was killed in the Pittsburgh area was in 2003. A letter carrier was shot in the back at Ingram and died hours later at a nearby hospital.

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