Posted on 05/23/2009 5:24:15 PM PDT by Born Conservative
Police have identified the two men who lost their lives Friday in the apparent murder-suicide at a restaurant in Columbia County.
Cleaning crews were still at Applebee's restaurant along Route 11 in Bloomsburg hours after two men were killed inside.
Investigators said 35-year-old Thomas Yurko of the Orangeville area walked in the restaurant just after 4 p.m. Friday and shot and killed Mark Wagner, 38, of Bloomsburg. Yurko then took his own life.
Officials said there were many employees and customers inside the restaurant at the time.
"When you go in and sit down to dinner, that would probably be the last thing that you thought of happening and I'm sure everybody at the restaurant was more than shocked," said Nancy Keskowski of Millville.
"Frightened and shocked. It's very, very hard to believe that this could happen in our small community that we live in, especially knowing the people that it happened to," said Jeanett DeBonis of Orangeville.
DeBonis has known the shooter, Thomas Yurko, for about 10 years. She has done business with him and his family and described him as friendly.
"I just can't believe it. I'm still kind of shocked that he would do this. That he was so unhappy that he couldn't handle this," added DeBonis.
Police have not said what led to the deadly shootings.
The president of the company that owns the Applebee's in Bloomsburg said the restaurant is doing everything it can to return to normal quickly.
"We're terribly saddened by what happened and our hearts go out to the families of the individuals. Certainly we're concerned about our employees. We're providing them counseling. Our concern is that they're okay and that we get through this together," said Jeff Warden with the Rose Group.
Warden said the Applebee's along Route 11 in Bloomsburg has been completely cleaned and sanitized. The restaurant reopened around 24 hours after the shootings.
Can’t disagree with you there. What do you do if the customer starts cleaning his pistol with his napkin? LOL
While I’m a Delawarean, I’ve friends up there and I’ve eaten there nearly a dozen times in recent years. Pity.
Yup.
my niece went to Bloomsburg U.
“”When you go in and sit down to dinner, that would probably be the last thing that you thought of happening and I’m sure everybody at the restaurant was more than shocked,” said Nancy Keskowski of Millville.”
Alao, it’s sickening. In a Hollywood movie, a shooting are neat and sanitary. In real life, a shooting make a terible, bloody mess that’s revolting.
Sounds like the shooter planned on murder. He probably was a decent person and he felt he had to kill this person and then ended his life as punishment. Unless we found out the reason for the murder, all we can is guess.
Maybe there will be followup.
I’ll post a followup when available.
I didn’t get the local paper yet, but the headline is “Police: Jealousy Drove Killer” (online edition is subscription only).
http://www.pressenterpriseonline.com/
RIP.
He shot himself in the chin; I’m sure that was very messy.
Is she a nurse? Bloomsburg is known for its excellent Nursing Program.
I just heard on the local news that the two guys worked together in construction. It may have been a business dispute.
Also, the victim’s mom and sister were seated there in the booth with him! How awful!
Thanks for the update.
Wagner’s sister was sitting alongside him, and apparently a bullet just missed her.
The restaurant opened within 24 hours after the shooting; not sure if many customers showed up.
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