Police near Philadelphia were hunting a former Marine reservist whom authorities say shot and killed six family members and wounded another in a Monday rampage that left dead bodies in three different homes.
As darkness fell, authorities converged on a home in Pennsburg, where Bradley William Stone, 35, was believed to be holed up. Police used a megaphone to try to compel an end to their daylong pursuit of Stone, who allegedly began the rampage in Harleysville early Monday morning before moving to Lansdale and Souderton. All three towns are within a few miles of each other, and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has said all of the victims had a "familial relationship" to Stone.
"Bradley, this is the police department!" an officer yelled. "Come to the front door with your hands up. You're under arrest." There was no immediate response
Ferman said Stone was likely wearing military fatigues and was known to use a cane or walker to assist him. Pennsburg is located 48 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The rampage began around 4 a.m. at ex-wife Nicole Stone's Harleysville apartment, investigators said. Stone broke in through a glass door, firing multiple rounds and fleeing with their two children, the woman's neighbors said.
He then went to two nearby communities, where her relatives lived, killed five other people and severely wounded another person before apparently holing up in a Pennsburg home, authorities said.
"She would tell anybody who would listen that he was going to kill her, and that she was really afraid for her life," said Evan Weron, a neighbor of Stone's ex-wife, Nicole Stone.
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.
"Everything started being blocked off, the SWAT was then later called in, then we had the tanks pull up," said Don Smith, describing the scene near his Souderton home.
Brad and Nicole Stone married in 2004 and filed for divorce in March 2009, according to court records.
The former couple recently sparred over custody of their two children, with Brad Stone filing an emergency petition Dec. 5 and Nicole Stone responding with a counterclaim Dec. 9, according to court records. The outcome of their dispute was not clear.
Nicole Stone's neighbors at the Pheasant Run Apartments in Harleysville said they were awoken Monday morning by the sounds of breaking glass and gunshots.
Weron said Nicole Stone would talk frequently about the custody dispute.
"(Nicole) came into the house a few times, a few separate occasions, crying about how it was very upsetting to her," Weron said.
Stone, whom U.S. Marine Corps records show served in Iraq and held the rank of sergeant at the time of his discharge in 2008, is described as 5-foot-10, weighing 195 pounds, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. He has an auburn beard and mustache with closely cropped hair.
Anyone with information about Stone's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.
Fox News' Justin Fishel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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