Crime & Safety

Upstate Homeowner Arrested After Shooting Burglars Dead: Cops

Police say the homeowner shot a 57-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man with an illegally owned handgun after they broke into his home.

DEERFIELD, NY – An upstate man faces a felony weapon possession charge after he fatally shot two people who were burglarizing his home Tuesday afternoon, State Police said.

Around 2:40 p.m., 64-year-old Ronald A. Stolarczyk "interrupted a burglary and shot the two suspects with an illegally owned handgun," at his home located at 6110 Walker Road in Deerfield, police said.

Patricia Anne Talerico, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene. Nicholas A. Talerico, 27, died from his injuries at a Utica hospital.

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Stolarczyk was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm, a class E felony. The investigation is continuing.

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