A homeless man is accused of shooting his uncle in the back with an arrow and then fleeing law enforcement, leading to a three-hour manhunt in Old Forge Monday night.

Dakota Michael Lederer, 27, faces charges of aggravated assault, possession a weapon, evading arrest and criminal trespass.

The Old Forge School District declared a lockdown of the Old Forge Junior/Senior High School during the search. At about 8 p.m., that lockdown was lifted after the suspect was in custody, according to a district statement. Superintendent Christopher Gatto said the district had already closed for holiday break, but the Junior High basketball team had been practicing at the time of the incident. In addition maintenance personnel were also at the school.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were called to the 200 block of Wyalusing Street at about 4:51 p.m. for the report of a man who shot another man with a bow and arrow.

Officers found Robert Edwards, 62, on the floor with an arrow protruding from the right side of his back. He was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.

Edwards told police he went outside to burn some paperwork when he saw Lederer, his nephew, at a campsite behind his house. He approached Lederer but he did not respond.

Edwards walked away from the campsite toward his home, crossing a creek and entering his back yard and Lederer followed carrying a bow and arrow.

Edwards heard Lederer loading a bow into the device and begged him not to shoot.

Edwards attempted to evade Lederer by running in a zigzag pattern, but Lederer ultimately struck him with the bow in the lower part of his back. When Edwards ran toward a neighbor’s house, Lederer followed and swung a hatchet at him.

When Edwards arrived at his neighbor’s house, Lederer tried unsuccessfully to force his way in. When Edwards loudly told the neighbor to get his gun, Lederer fled.

Multiple law enforcement departments responded to the scene including Old Forge, Taylor, Moosic, Scranton and Pennsylvania State Police. Law enforcement officials searched the area using a drone, K-9 units and a helicopter.

A search of Lederer’s campsite yielded knives, machetes, an axe, arrows and drug paraphernalia.

Law enforcement officials ultimately located Lederer on foot on Mine Street, carrying a bow, after tracking him with a police helicopter. Police moved in and arrested him.

Officers noted he had several knives with him at the time of his arrest. He was taken to the Old Forge Police Department. He was read his Miranda rights, but said he didn’t want to speak with police.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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