2 prison guards face charges for shooting range homicide
By: Ben Russell
7/31 4:33 pm
Two corrections officers from the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill are charged in the shooting death of a Cumberland County attorney and the theft of his custom, silenced rifle, authorities announced late Friday.
Raymond Peake, 64, of Hampden Township, Cumberland County is charged with homicide, robbery and other crimes for the shooting death of Todd Getgen, 42, of Enola. The shooting happened last Wednesday at a State Game Commission rifle range in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County.
According to Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, a witness told investigators they saw a man matching Peake's description driving away from the rifle range on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 21, the day Getgen was found shot to death.
On Thursday, July 29, officers began surveillance of Peake and followed him to a sporting goods store, where Freed said Peake purchased a gun cabinet. From there Freed said Peake drove to the Perry County home of Thomas Tuso, 34, of Duncannon, Perry County. Tuso is also a guard at SCI Camp Hill.
Freed told CBS 21 News that officers witnessed Peake carrying a heavy, black duffel bag out of Tuso's home. From there, detectives followed Peake to a storage unit facility south of Carlisle, Freed said. According to the district attorney, Peake then put the bag and the gun cabinet into a storage unit.
On Friday investigators executed three search warrants; at the storage unit, at Peake's home and at Tuso's home.
Freed said police found three firearms inside of the storage unit. One was Getgen's custom, silenced AR-15 rifle that was stolen from the range the day of his death. The second was a scoped Remington rifle that had been reported stolen from the same range in May. And the third gun was another AR-15 that Freed said ballistics may prove to be the murder weapon.
Freed said authorities confronted Peake and Tuso at the Camp Hill prison Friday.
Tuso is charged with conspiracy, receiving stolen property and other crimes, Freed said. Tuso's only connection to Getgen's homicide was storing the weapons, according to the district attorney.
On Saturday, CBS 21 News obtained court records. In them, Peake told police during an interview that he and Getgen were the only two people at the range. Peake said he found Getgen dead, then took his AR-15 with the attached suppressor. Peake said he later took the AR-15 to Thomas Tuso's home for the purpose of having Tuso keep it for him in Tuso's bedroom. Peake said he told Tuso that the weapon was from the man killed at the rifle range. Peake said Tuso kept guns for him and said they'd been " stealing guns for the purpose of overthrowing the federal government" ( of the United State of America.) Peake said he and Tuso together are members of this organization. Peake refused to name that organization and told police he would " kill to defend his country and he was stealing weapons to defend his country."
There are nuts everywhere, keep your awareness up and I would recommend a heightened sense of awareness where there are lots of loaded weapons around. Dont assume everyone at the range is friendly.
By: Ben Russell
7/31 4:33 pm
Two corrections officers from the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill are charged in the shooting death of a Cumberland County attorney and the theft of his custom, silenced rifle, authorities announced late Friday.
Raymond Peake, 64, of Hampden Township, Cumberland County is charged with homicide, robbery and other crimes for the shooting death of Todd Getgen, 42, of Enola. The shooting happened last Wednesday at a State Game Commission rifle range in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County.
According to Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, a witness told investigators they saw a man matching Peake's description driving away from the rifle range on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 21, the day Getgen was found shot to death.
On Thursday, July 29, officers began surveillance of Peake and followed him to a sporting goods store, where Freed said Peake purchased a gun cabinet. From there Freed said Peake drove to the Perry County home of Thomas Tuso, 34, of Duncannon, Perry County. Tuso is also a guard at SCI Camp Hill.
Freed told CBS 21 News that officers witnessed Peake carrying a heavy, black duffel bag out of Tuso's home. From there, detectives followed Peake to a storage unit facility south of Carlisle, Freed said. According to the district attorney, Peake then put the bag and the gun cabinet into a storage unit.
On Friday investigators executed three search warrants; at the storage unit, at Peake's home and at Tuso's home.
Freed said police found three firearms inside of the storage unit. One was Getgen's custom, silenced AR-15 rifle that was stolen from the range the day of his death. The second was a scoped Remington rifle that had been reported stolen from the same range in May. And the third gun was another AR-15 that Freed said ballistics may prove to be the murder weapon.
Freed said authorities confronted Peake and Tuso at the Camp Hill prison Friday.
Tuso is charged with conspiracy, receiving stolen property and other crimes, Freed said. Tuso's only connection to Getgen's homicide was storing the weapons, according to the district attorney.
On Saturday, CBS 21 News obtained court records. In them, Peake told police during an interview that he and Getgen were the only two people at the range. Peake said he found Getgen dead, then took his AR-15 with the attached suppressor. Peake said he later took the AR-15 to Thomas Tuso's home for the purpose of having Tuso keep it for him in Tuso's bedroom. Peake said he told Tuso that the weapon was from the man killed at the rifle range. Peake said Tuso kept guns for him and said they'd been " stealing guns for the purpose of overthrowing the federal government" ( of the United State of America.) Peake said he and Tuso together are members of this organization. Peake refused to name that organization and told police he would " kill to defend his country and he was stealing weapons to defend his country."
There are nuts everywhere, keep your awareness up and I would recommend a heightened sense of awareness where there are lots of loaded weapons around. Dont assume everyone at the range is friendly.