Montgomery County killing spree suspect possibly spotted

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014
VIDEO: Sarah Bloomquist reports from Pennsburg
Sarah Bloomquist reports from Pennsburg where the most active search was happening Monday evening.

PENNSBURG, Pa. (KABC) -- Authorities were tracking a suspected gunman on the loose after a killing spree in Montgomery County that left six people dead at multiple locations on Monday.

A man resembling the suspect - 35-year-old Bradley William Stone - was spotted armed with a knife and wearing camouflage during an attempted a carjacking in Doylestown, Bucks County, sources told Eyewitness News. After a struggle, the alleged carjacking victim fired shots at the suspect, who then fled into the woods.

The victim later led police into the nearby woods in search of the possible shooter.

PHOTOS: 5 dead in Montgomery County shooting spree

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said all of the victims have a "familial relationship" to Stone.

A woman - identified as Stone's ex-wife - was found dead in Lower Salford Township, two people were found dead in Lansdale and three people were found dead in Souderton.

Investigators believe it all began at 4:55 a.m. after a 911 hangup call led police to the Pheasant Run Apartments on the 100 block of Main Street in Lower Salford Twp. Police arrived to find 33-year-old Nicole Hill Stone shot in the head. Two bullet holes in the wall could be seen from outside.

"I heard 3 or 4 gunshots. I heard the kids yelling, saying 'Mommy no! Mommy no!'" a neighbor told WPVI-TV. "He kept saying, 'We gotta go, we gotta go.'"

The neighbor continued, "I asked him if everything was okay and I saw the kids and the kids' father exiting the house, and they didn't have any coats on or anything. They just had their pajamas on."

"He was like 'She's hurt pretty bad, we gotta leave," the neighbor continued.

Stone then took their two daughters from the home, the district attorney said, and dropped them off at a neighbor's house in Pennsburg shortly after 5 a.m., the district attorney said.

Neighbors say there has been an ongoing custody dispute between the mother and father.

Meanwhile, Nicole Hill Stone's sister, Patricia Flick, along with her husband, Aaron Flick, and their 14-year-old daughter, Nina Flick, were found dead inside a home in Souderton. Their 17-year-old son, Anthony Flick, was found wounded and was rushed to the hospital.

Investigators believe the victims in Souderton were shot first at 3:30 a.m.

Police were on the scene for an hours-long standoff on Monday. It ended after police made entry to the home just before noon.

An ambulance was seen rushing from that location a few moments later.

Meanwhile, in Lansdale, the district attorney said police found the bodies of Nicole Hill Stone's 57-year-old mother, Joanne Hill, and her 75-year-old grandmother, Patricia Hill, in the 100 block of West 5th Street at 4:25 a.m.

People who live nearby say they often saw Stone confronting his ex-wife outside.

"They weren't getting along," said Corlie Stills. "They started arguing with one another 'I don't want you to have her, I don't want you to see her,' you know."

Among the first on the scene was Joyce Gorman, who says she's a close friend of the grandmother who was murdered.

She says she knew in her gut what happened as soon as the news broke on TV.

"I was concerned because I couldn't get a hold of her and she hasn't called me back. We usually speak every couple of days. I just spoke with her yesterday," Gorman said.

The district attorney's office says Bradley Stone is described as 5'10" tall and weighs 195 pounds. He has a red or auburn beard and mustache with closely cropped hair.

While Stone is known to use a cane or walker to assist him, he may not be using those devices now. The district attorney also said Stone may be wearing military fatigues, in either sand or green color.

Neighbors said Stone had issues stemming from his time in the military.

According to a Marine spokesperson, Stone is a former Marine reservist who served from 2002 to 2011, with one deployment to Iraq, leaving with the rank of sergeant. He was deployed to Iraq from April 2008 until July 2008.

Police have been outside a home near Pottstown Avenue and Main Street in Pennsburg, Pa. for hours, apparently on the belief Stone may be inside.

A series of flash-bangs could be heard as police staged outside the home and officers could be heard on loudspeakers calling Stone's name.

"Bradley, this is the police department!" officers yelled. "Come to the front door with your hands up. You're under arrest."

At one point, a team smashed into a garage and sent a robot inside.

Some Pennsburg residents were forced to leave their homes.

"It was kind of crazy. I got a bang on my door around 8:30 or 9:00. It was the SWAT team and they said we all had to get out immediately, that there was a problem on the street and we had to get out," said Shawn Hollister.