A former local police officer's promise to law enforcement agents that he wouldn't be taken alive after allegedly shooting a man in the foot during an argument with an ex-girlfriend in her Mount Carmel home was kept Tuesday night when police in Delaware County shot and killed him in a hotel less than 18 hours after the incident.
James Burke, supervisory deputy with the U.S. Marshals, confirmed Tuesday night that Anthony Galla, 31, of 38 E. Pine St., Apt. 3, Cleona, Lebanon County, was killed in a room at Summit Inn Hotel, 351 E. Township Line Road, Upper Darby, at approximately 6:30 p.m.
While the details in finding his location were not being released Tuesday night, Burke said the investigation led the marshals, state police and Upper Darby Police Department to the building.
A perimeter was established and Galla was shot multiple times by police within 30 minutes of their arrival, Burke said.
No one else was injured in the incident, but a male and a female were taken into custody for their involvement in the case, Burke said.
A handgun was also recovered at the scene, he said.
Mount Carmel Police were searching for Galla Tuesday after charging him with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other crimes following a shooting at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday at the home of Marlene Lloyd, 244 S. Walnut St., in which police found seven spent shell casings from a 40-caliber hand gun.
The victim, Daniel McNally, 48, of Hegins, was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was to undergo foot surgery. He was listed in fair condition Tuesday night, and his injuries are not considered life threatening. He reportedly suffered shattered bones in his foot.
Woken by flashlight in face
A criminal complaint filed by investigating officers Cpl. David Donkochik and Patrolman William K. Adamski said the shooting stemmed from an argument between Galla and Lloyd that started after Galla entered her home and shined a flashlight in her face, waking her up.
They describe Galla as a former police officer "with military experience," having served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
McNally told police at the hospital that the two were in the bedroom sleeping when he was awakened by his girlfriend screaming, "Anthony, no!" Blinded by the flashlight, McNally said the intruder asked him if he was "Dan," and he said "yes."
Galla and Lloyd went into the hallway and when McNally went to check on them, he said Galla pointed a semi-automatic handgun at him.
"The boyfriend retreated, saying 'I will leave' several times and got on the floor beside the bed," the complaint states.
At that point, McNally said Galla entered the room, stood approximately six feet from him and fired one round, missing him.
Police said Galla paused and looked at Lloyd before turning his attention back to McNally. He fired the gun again several times, hitting him once in the foot. Galla left the residence when Lloyd went to check on McNally, police said.
Police recovered seven spent .40 caliber shell casings from the bedroom. They also recovered a key in the front door lock. Lloyd told police the key was hidden in the front porch area, but Galla had knowledge of it.
She told police she and Galla had resided together until they broke up.
Lloyd and two other occupants in the home, her son and brother, were not harmed, police said.
'Two ways this will end...'
At 3:25 a.m., while police were processing the scene, Adamski was informed Lloyd was speaking to Galla on the phone. When they were finished, police spoke to him via speakerphone.
When police asked him to come and speak to officers, Galla told them no, and that he knew what was going to happen. Adamski asked him again to come back to town or they could come and meet him.
Galla refused, and told police, "the real Anthony Galla is back."
He then told police he isn't dumb, and that there are "two ways this will end - one is good and one is bad."
The suspect then asked if the Emergency Response Team was out to get him; he also asked Adamski to read him his Miranda rights over the phone, but before that happened, Galla said he had to go and ended the call.
In addition to attempted homicide, other felony charges filed against Galla include burglary, criminal trespass, aggravated assault-attempts with indifference to life, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and flight to avoid apprehension. He also faces misdemeanor counts of simple assault, attempted assault by physical menace, recklessly endangering another person and loitering and prowling at night.
Pops and thuds
As rain fell on South Walnut Street Tuesday morning, daylight saw a much more serene setting than a few hours earlier when the night was filled with strange sounds and flashing lights.
Barbara Parrish, who lives at 238 S. Walnut St., three doors down the hill from Lloyd's home, was watching TV at approximately 1 a.m. when she heard noises outside.
"I heard about four pops around that time," Parrish said. "I didn't look outside until I saw the lights flashing and then saw the cop cars and ambulances.
Claire Jurasich, who lives next door to Lloyd at 246 S. Walnut St., was asleep when she heard a thud against a wall in her home.
"I had no idea what was going on. I looked out a little bit later and saw all the commotion," she said.
Both neighbors said those living at 244 S. Walnut St. are quiet neighbors.
"They often kept to themselves, but if you saw them outside, they talked to you," Jurasich said.
Tracking the suspect
Galla was believed to have been operating a silver 2003 Honda CRV with Pennsylvania registration HHD-1926. Police had asked the public to utilize caution and noted he may have been in possession of law enforcement credentials.
It was not known whether he was headed back to his home in Cleona, about 50 miles south of Mount Carmel near Lebanon, or to New Jersey, where he also has family.
Mount Carmel Borough Police Sgt. Christopher Buhay said police were following any and all leads as to Galla's whereabouts.
Borough Police Chief Todd Owens said that officers have been in contact with officers in Cleona and the New Jersey State Police all day updating them.
The chief also said they were in communication with the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Emergency Service Operations out of Hershey, and the U.S. Marshalls office and their Fugitive Task Force.