Man Fatally Shot Neighbor After Dispute Over Pipe: State Police

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PA — A Northampton County man fatally shot his neighbor Monday morning, then turned the gun on himself after an ongoing dispute over a water pipe, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The incident happened just after 10:30 a.m. in Moore Township. The local police department was dispatched to Moser Road for the report of shots fired.

When police arrived, an unnamed 74-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He told police he had shot both himself and the neighbor who lived across the street, State Police said.

The victim, Christopher Robbin Debellis, 42, was found behind his house with multiple gunshot wounds. Debellis was later pronounced deceased by the Northampton County Coroner and the cause of death was ruled homicide.

Debellis was shot both inside and outside his residence with both a handgun and rifle, Pennsylvania State Police said.

An initial investigation by police revealed both neighbors have been engaged in an ongoing neighbor dispute involving a water pipe that led to numerous arguments and disagreements over the past several months.

The suspect was transported to Saint Luke’s Fountain Hill for his injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.