Police are investigating a murder-suicide in Adams County.UPDATE: Investigators have identified the victim as 58-year-old John Frey, of York. The shooter was identified by police as 75-year-old Phillip Hughes, of Marshville, North Carolina.Eastern Adams Regional police responded to the Plainville Farms distribution center along York Road in New Oxford around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday.Police said Hughes, who was fired the previous day, came back to the business and shot his former boss in the parking lot before he turned the gun on himself. “Once (Hughes) observed that the transportation supervisor arrived on the scene, he came to the scene, parked, and before the gentleman could get out of his car completely, he opened fire on him,” said Chief Francis Staab, of the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department. About 600 people work at the facility. Police said none of them were in danger. Police provided the following release about the murder-suicide:”On Tuesday, August 21, 2019 at approximately 05:23 hours, Eastern Adams Regional Police Department responded to Plainville Farms Distribution Center located on the 5900 block of York Road on Turkey Lane in Oxford Township for a report of shots fired.”Upon location, Police observed two subjects laying between two parked cars in the parking lot motionless. Upon investigation, the officer determined that the subjects were deceased and requested backup to secure the scene and determine if there were any other shooters found on the property.”An employee witness was identified and stated that he was the caller and heard three gun shots, and he took cover for his protection. The witness stated that he did not observe the actual shooting, but heard the gun shots. The witness also stated that he observed the shooter driving up and down the driveway in a white Dodge Caravan looking suspicious. He also stated that the shooter was parked in the adjacent parking lot for some time.”At approximately 5:20 hours, the victim identified as John Frey W/M 58 years of age DOB 04-24-1961 from York, PA who was the transportation supervisor for Plainville Farms arrived for work and parked his vehicle in the employee parking lot adjacent to the company loading docks.”While Frey was exiting his vehicle, the operator of the Dodge Caravan quickly pulled up beside him and parked his vehicle. The operator then jumped out of his vehicle to confront Frey. The operator was identified as Phillip Michael Hughes W/M 75 years of age DOB 01-20-1944 from Marshville, NC 28103 who fired two shots at Frey point blank range striking him once in the right side of the head area causing the victim to collapse. Hughes then fired one more time under his chin area taking his own life.”Found at the scene was one Smith & Wesson 5-shot Chief’s Special with two live rounds and three spent rounds. Also found on Hughes were 5 live rounds in his right front pocket.”A Plainville Farms representative identified both subjects as Frey being the transportation supervisor and Hughes being an independent trucking contractor working for Plainville Farms who was recently terminated the day before.”At 5:50 hours, the Adams County Coroner pronounced both subjects deceased. The incident is being classified as a murder-suicide.”Plainville Farms provided this statement:”The Plainville Farms family experienced a terrible, senseless tragedy at our Distribution Center in New Oxford early this morning.”Plainville Farms is working closely with law enforcement in their investigation of this fatal incident that involved a manager at Plainville and an independent contractor. “Plainville Farms is a family and we are in mourning. Counseling will be provided to all of our employees to help with the healing process. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by this tragedy.”
Police are investigating a murder-suicide in Adams County.
UPDATE: Investigators have identified the victim as 58-year-old John Frey, of York. The shooter was identified by police as 75-year-old Phillip Hughes, of Marshville, North Carolina.
Eastern Adams Regional police responded to the Plainville Farms distribution center along York Road in New Oxford around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said Hughes, who was fired the previous day, came back to the business and shot his former boss in the parking lot before he turned the gun on himself.
“Once (Hughes) observed that the transportation supervisor arrived on the scene, he came to the scene, parked, and before the gentleman could get out of his car completely, he opened fire on him,” said Chief Francis Staab, of the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department.
About 600 people work at the facility. Police said none of them were in danger.
Police provided the following release about the murder-suicide:
“On Tuesday, August 21, 2019 at approximately 05:23 hours, Eastern Adams Regional Police Department responded to Plainville Farms Distribution Center located on the 5900 block of York Road on Turkey Lane in Oxford Township for a report of shots fired.
“Upon location, Police observed two subjects laying between two parked cars in the parking lot motionless. Upon investigation, the officer determined that the subjects were deceased and requested backup to secure the scene and determine if there were any other shooters found on the property.
“An employee witness was identified and stated that he was the caller and heard three gun shots, and he took cover for his protection. The witness stated that he did not observe the actual shooting, but heard the gun shots. The witness also stated that he observed the shooter driving up and down the driveway in a white Dodge Caravan looking suspicious. He also stated that the shooter was parked in the adjacent parking lot for some time.
“At approximately 5:20 hours, the victim identified as John Frey W/M 58 years of age DOB 04-24-1961 from York, PA who was the transportation supervisor for Plainville Farms arrived for work and parked his vehicle in the employee parking lot adjacent to the company loading docks.
“While Frey was exiting his vehicle, the operator of the Dodge Caravan quickly pulled up beside him and parked his vehicle. The operator then jumped out of his vehicle to confront Frey. The operator was identified as Phillip Michael Hughes W/M 75 years of age DOB 01-20-1944 from Marshville, NC 28103 who fired two shots at Frey point blank range striking him once in the right side of the head area causing the victim to collapse. Hughes then fired one more time under his chin area taking his own life.
“Found at the scene was one Smith & Wesson 5-shot Chief’s Special with two live rounds and three spent rounds. Also found on Hughes were 5 live rounds in his right front pocket.
“A Plainville Farms representative identified both subjects as Frey being the transportation supervisor and Hughes being an independent trucking contractor working for Plainville Farms who was recently terminated the day before.
“At 5:50 hours, the Adams County Coroner pronounced both subjects deceased. The incident is being classified as a murder-suicide.”
Plainville Farms provided this statement:
“The Plainville Farms family experienced a terrible, senseless tragedy at our Distribution Center in New Oxford early this morning.
“Plainville Farms is working closely with law enforcement in their investigation of this fatal incident that involved a manager at Plainville and an independent contractor.
“Plainville Farms is a family and we are in mourning. Counseling will be provided to all of our employees to help with the healing process. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by this tragedy.”
