HONEY BROOK – A man protecting his sister was shot, and the gunman from Reading allegedly shot himself Saturday morning in a domestic-related attempted murder-suicide, according to police and the Chester County District Attorney.
Honey Brook police responded to a shooting call at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday at a home in the 4800 block of Horseshoe Pike, in the Borough of Honey Brook, according to District Attorney Tom Hogan.
Hogan released a statement Saturday afternoon, which called the shooting, a ‘domestic violence incident turned deadly in Honey Brook Borough.’
According to the release, police found two men suffering from gunshot wounds at the home.
The shooter was identified as Dustin Scott Hoffman, 29, of Reading, police said. He was pronounced dead at Brandywine Hospital from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The shooting victim, whose name is being withheld by police, was flown to Reading Hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition.
Police said Hoffman, who is accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, showed up at the home on Horseshoe Pike. He demanded the woman come outside and talk to him.
Instead, according to police, the woman’s brother arrived at the home. He confronted Hoffman, telling him to leave the property.
A physical altercation began, and according to the release, Hoffman pulled a gun and shot the brother. The bullet is said to have struck him in the arm, traveling through him and lodging in the man’s hip.
In the release, Hogan stated that, ‘If this young woman would have come out of the residence to meet with Hoffman, she would have been murdered. Instead, her brother was shot protecting his sister and Hoffman is dead.’
According to the release, Hoffman has a pending simple assault charge involving the same woman. A bail condition stated that he was not to have contact with the woman.
Hoffman has also been convicted of assault, DUI and sex offenses in the past, according to Hogan.
Hogan said the man was also wanted for an aggravated assault out of Berks County.
‘This is yet another reminder that domestic violence cases can accelerate to extreme violence in a flash, and must be treated seriously by the criminal justice system,’ Hogan said.
Chester County Detectives assisted Honey Brook Police at the scene. Also assisting were Caernarvon Police and the Honey Brook Fire Department.
