Suspect Roderick Sims allegedly shot his former fiancée in the head on S. Water St.
By Kelly McGaw
News Editor
Lewisburg resident Charity Spickler, 27, was shot Saturday by her estranged fiancée while hiding out at a friend’s apartment at 55 S. Water Street, according to Lewisburg Police.
Spickler was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital for treatment then transported via Life Flight to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville where she was pronounced dead Monday morning, police said.
The alleged shooter, Roderick Sims, 47, also of Lewisburg, was taken into custody early Sunday after a 30-minute standoff with police. He was arraigned on charges of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and terroristic threats. He is incarcerated at Union County Prison on $500,000 bail.
Spickler is survived by four children, three of whom were fathered by Sims.
The incident transpired quickly and quietly, getting attention from few neighbors.
“I didn’t see or hear the incident at the house. I heard and I saw the police arriving ... first local, then state, then emergency vehicles,” said Janet Jones, professor of classics and a resident of S. Water Street.
“There were many police there before I even realized what was happening,” Jones said.
“I didn’t hear anything,” said Gerald Commerford, associate dean of students, also of S. Water Street.
Jason Friedberg, chief of University Public Safety, said Saturday’s events did not threaten the safety of University students.
“If we thought it would affect Bucknell we would have alerted the campus,” Friedberg said. (read full article)
