Man charged in murders

BY STACI WILSON

Hallstead area gun shop owner Lloyd Thomas faces two counts of criminal homicide after he allegedly gunned down two men Saturday, Feb. 11 in Great Bend Twp.

Thomas, 45, Hallstead, stands accused of killing Joshua Rogers, 30, Hallstead, and Gilberto Alvarez, 28, formerly ofFlorida. In a summary citation lodged against Alvarez on Sept. 17, 2011 inWashingtonCountyhis address was listed as Hallstead.

According to the police affidavit, Thomas told police he had acted in self defense; but also told police that neither Rogers nor Alvarez had any weapons.

Thomas is being held without bail in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22 in front of Judge Jodi Cordner in New Milford District Court.

According to the affidavit, Thomas was taken into custody Saturday as he was walking back to his home on Pine Ayre Rd. Police said he was holding a pistol and a rifle and there was blood on his left hand.

While being transported to thePennsylvaniaState Police barracks in Gibson, Thomas told troopers he was “out of tears,” according to the affidavit.

Police were called to the scene after someone reported seeing a man’s body just off a private roadway. A black Ford Mustang was parked in the middle of the road a short distance from the body. The victim was later identified asRogers.

According to the affidavit,Rogerssustained a gunshot would to his lower left side and one in his hand.

Alvarez’s body was found by police in the front yard of the Thomas’ father’s home, Hayden Thomas, with a gunshot wound to his left temple, according to police.

Susquehanna County Coroner Anthony Conarton determined the manner of death to be homicide.

Police interviewed neighbors on the scene. One neighbor, according to the affidavit, reported hearing gunshots which sounded like they came from behind the Thomas home.

That neighbor also told police that she saw Thomas running up the road with his two dogs and a pistol in his hand.

Another neighbor said he heard the three to five quick pistol shots from Thomas’ home. And then two to three minutes later, he told police he heard another round of quick shots.

He also reported he saw Thomas running up the road.

According to the affidavit, Thomas agreed to give a verbal statement to police after he was read his Miranda rights.

Thomas told police he had shot both the men but did not provide any details into the circumstances surrounding the shootings, according to police.

The accused also told police the gun used in the shooting was in his cabin, up the hill about one mile from where the incident occurred.

According to the affidavit, Thomas said he cut his hand on a knife that was in his pocket.

He then, according to the complaint, told police he did not want to speak anymore and the interview was stopped.

Thomas and his father are the owners of sporting goods shop, “The Outdoorsman.” The shop used to have a Lenox Twp. storefront but it was destroyed in the April 2010 Bingham’s Restaurant arson.