A 62-year-old Spring Brook Twp. man will serve at least 13½ years in prison after attempting to kill his longtime partner in February 2025.
Lackawanna County Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced James Walsh to 13½ to 27 years in state prison Thursday after Walsh pleaded guilty in October to criminal attempt to commit murder with a deadly weapon.
Walsh shot Melissa Figliomeni in the face during a dispute over changing the television channel.
When Figliomeni called 911 to report she had been shot, operators could hear Walsh in the background saying, “You’re gonna die, you’re gonna die,” according to the criminal complaint.
As officers were responding to the scene, dispatchers were informed Walsh had shot himself in the head, the complaint continued.
“Walsh was physically abusive to the victim in instances prior to the shooting. The shooting was prompted when Walsh became irate over the victim changing the television channel,” District Attorney Brian Gallagher said in a release announcing the sentence.
Figliomeni told officers she woke up from a nap and noticed Walsh had changed the channel. When she changed the channel back, Walsh grabbed a rifle and fired it, striking her in the face, according to the criminal complaint.
“James Walsh has been sentenced to 13.5 – 27 years in state prison for the brutal attempted homicide of his longtime partner, an attack rooted in a long history of physical abuse that turned the victim’s home — a place that should symbolize safety — into a living nightmare for her,” Gallagher said in the release.
“This office stands unyieldingly committed to shielding our residents, especially those enduring domestic violence, from criminals who escalate their cruelty and brutality to near-fatal levels,” he said. “No community member should live in fear within their own walls, and we will continue to pursue the fullest measure of justice against abusers like Walsh to prevent further tragedy.”