The shooting death of Frederick Zantowsky Jr., 47, of Dunmore at his home Sunday night was caused by a single gunshot wound to his abdomen and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said Tuesday in a statement.
Previously, on Monday, Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said a 47-year-old Dunmore man died after being shot by his son on Sunday evening, and police were evaluating claims the shooting was justified and in defense of others.
Dunmore patrol officers responded to 401 Mortimer St. around 8:31 p.m. for the report of a domestic disturbance and found a male with a single gunshot wound.
The victim — identified as Frederick Zantowsky Jr. — lived at the residence and was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, police said.
Police detained the shooter — identified by Gallagher as Zantowsky’s son — at the same address. Police did not list a name or age of the son.
After cooperating with detectives who conducted interviews at the crime scene, the shooter was released pending further investigation, police said.
Gallagher said Zantowsky — who showed signs of intoxication — had brandished a firearm and pointed it at his son and other family members, including an 8-year-old child.
“The deceased’s son fired his own weapon one time, striking the victim”, Gallagher had said.
Detectives believe the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public, Gallagher added.
The Lackawanna County district attorney’s office, Throop police, Pennsylvania Ambulance, the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit and the Lackawanna County coroner’s office assisted Dunmore officers at the scene, investigators said. Investigators from the Dunmore Police Department and prosecutors from the district attorney’s office remain actively engaged in completing a thorough investigation, Gallagher had said.
Robert Tomkavage, staff writer, contributed to this article.