Man Accused of Killing Parents and Shooting at Ex-Wife Dies After Police Shootout

Tom Ozimek
9/20/2018
Updated:
9/20/2018

A police manhunt has come to an end in Pennsylvania as a 59-year-old man wanted by police for trying to kill his ex-wife and murdering his elderly parents is dead.

“The manhunt is over, the suspect is dead,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan of the deceased Bruce Rogal, who was pursued by police throughout the night following the Sept. 19 shooting.

“He led police on a chase. State police were then joined by SWAT team members,” Hogan told reporters at a press conference at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, according to ABC.
Police at the scene of a deadly shooting at Bellingham Retirement Community in Pennsylvania, Sept. 19, 2018. (Pete Bannan/Daily Local News via AP)
Police at the scene of a deadly shooting at Bellingham Retirement Community in Pennsylvania, Sept. 19, 2018. (Pete Bannan/Daily Local News via AP)

Hogan published a statement on Facebook, saying, “There is no ongoing threat in Chester County. All law enforcement personnel involved are unhurt. It is a tragedy that the defendant killed his elderly parents. All of the first responders did a tremendous job under enormous pressure.”

Hogan told reporters that Rogal receiving the divorce order was apparently what had “set him off.”

Rogal first went to the home of his estranged wife and fired a weapon at her six times. She was in the driveway at the time, attending to her car.

This is the home where Rogal reportedly attacked his ex-wife on Sept. 19, 2018. He shot at her six times while she was in the driveway changing the oil on her car. (Google Maps)
This is the home where Rogal reportedly attacked his ex-wife on Sept. 19, 2018. He shot at her six times while she was in the driveway changing the oil on her car. (Google Maps)

He then went to the Bellingham Retirement Community in Westchester, where his parents resided. He shot 89-year-old William Rogal and 87-year-old Nancy Rogal, before fleeing the scene and going on the run.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper James Spencer said police pursued Rogal throughout the night, both on the ground and in the air.

Police talk with family members at the nursing home where Rogal reportedly shot his parents, Sept. 19, 2018. (Pete Bannan/Daily Local News via AP)
Police talk with family members at the nursing home where Rogal reportedly shot his parents, Sept. 19, 2018. (Pete Bannan/Daily Local News via AP)
Staff at the nursing home where Rogal allegedly shot his parents were locked down for hours as emergency response crews attended to the scene, NBC reported, and roadblocks were set up that stretched for miles.

Spencer said Rogal eventually drove into the neighborhood where Rogal’s ex-wife lives and rammed his vehicle into her house.

“After he crashed into the house, a gunfire exchange happened with the pursuing troopers that were already on scene following him,” Spencer said, ABC reported.

A radio call obtained by ABC reportedly said, “They exchanged gunfire. They say he’s armed with a rifle. There are helicopters above saying that the doors are still closed on the vehicle.”

Spencer told reporters Rogal had posed a threat.

“Already killed two people, heightened security. It is an active investigation, but we did exchange gunfire with him,” Spencer said.

First aid was administered at the scene, Spencer said, but he did not reveal Rogal’s cause of death.

Rogal’s ex-wife was unharmed.