Schuylkill Haven man shoots, kills girlfriend, then turns gun on himself

POTTSVILLE - A Schuylkill Haven man shot his estranged girlfriend and turned the gun on himself about noon Friday.

According to Pottsville police, Frank Manganiello, 51, of 115 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven, shot Sandra Pucci, 50, of 1921 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville, in the parking lot of the Social Security Administration office at 2221 W. Market St. He then led police on a chase down Market Street before leaving his vehicle and running into the First United Methodist Church, Fourth and West Market streets, where he shot himself at the altar.

According to city police, officers were called to the parking lot for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, they found Pucci in the lot with multiple gunshot wounds.

Witnesses saw Manganiello fleeing from the scene of the shooting and city police found him travelling east on Market Street.

Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett confirmed Manganiello died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head between noon and 12:30 p.m.

In a press conference about

2:30 p.m. Friday, District Attorney James Goodman confirmed that Pucci, who was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Lipsett said forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Bindie will perform an autopsy on Manganiello at 9 a.m. today.

According to police, Pucci worked at the Way Mart Food Store in the Yorkville section of Pottsville. After an altercation there, the couple went into the parking lot of the Social Security office next to Way Mart, where shots were fired.

Goodman said Manganiello and Pucci had a past relationship and that there is currently a case against him.

"He posted bail and was released from prison," Goodman said.

Capt. Ronald Moser confirmed charges of burglary and rape have been filed by police against Manganiello and he was awaiting a preliminary hearing. No further details were available about the charges.

According to the county prothonotary's office, Pucci had filed a Protection From Abuse order against Manganiello, which was made final Wednesday.

Maganiello was the owner of Fresco's Italian Pizzeria at Sharp Mountain Plaza.

On Friday afternoon, employees of the Garfield Diner witnessed Manganiello leaving his vehicle and entering the church.

"We were standing around since we only had a few tables. We saw a car zoom down the street, slow down and a man jumped out. The car didn't even stop, he just jumped out," said waitress Stephanie Lozada, Pottsville. "We could see that he had what we thought was a gun. He was screaming at police and he ran in the side door."

Lozada and Shanda Potter, New Philadelphia, also a waitress, saw people coming out of the church.

"We saw Pastor Storm (Hutchinson) and others coming out. Some of them had little kids and babies," Potter said.

"The police did a really good job of stopping traffic and getting everyone out of the square," Lozada said.

She said the diner was locked and they kept everyone inside while Manganiello was inside the church.

City police along with state police from Frackville, Schuylkill Haven and Reading, the Schuylkill Haven, Minersville, Port Carbon, Tremont, and Saint Clair departments, and the county sheriff's department blocked off one block of Market Street and Fourth Street while they surrounded the church.

Goodman said once the scene was secure, officers entered the church, where they found Manganiello at the altar with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Goodman said he did not believe there was a connection between Manganiello and First United Methodist Church.