Man Arraigned In Fatal Shootings At Pa. Meeting

SAYLORSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania man has been arraigned on homicide charges and other counts after police say he fatally shot three people during a municipal meeting in the Poconos amid a dispute with the township.

State police say about 15 to 18 residents and town officials were at the Ross Township meeting Monday night when the gunfire erupted.

Authorities say the gunman, 59-year-old Rockne Newell, was tackled to the ground by two people and was shot with his own gun. He was treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg.

Newell was arraigned Tuesday morning. He is charged with three counts of homicide and two counts of attempted homicide.

At the arraignment, a judge asked if he owned any property and Newell said: "No, they stole it from me. That's what started all this."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.