Officer shoots wife, himself Police corporal, 37, reported 'critical'

SUNBURY - A veteran Sunbury police officer allegedly shot and killed his wife early Saturday morning outside their Catawissa Avenue home before shooting himself in the head.

Michael William Miller, 37, a corporal with Sunbury Police Department, was reportedly fighting for his life late Saturday night at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where he was listed in critical condition.

According to reports at the scene, Miller allegedly shot his 38-year-old wife, Robin Miller, three times, including once in the head, left leg and body, at 2 a.m. in a narrow walkway between their residence at 454 Catawissa Ave. and a neighboring home.

Miller then reportedly shot himself in the head with the same Ruger 9mm pistol. He was initially transported to Sunbury Community Hospital before being flown by Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger.

Mrs. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:50 a.m. from multiple gunshot wounds by Northumberland County Chief Deputy Coroner James Gotblob, who was assisted by Deputy Coroner Barry J. Leisenring.

An autopsy and toxicology tests will be conducted by Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley and forensic pathologists at 8 a.m. Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.

The shootings were the result of a domestic dispute, according to police.

Although the shootings are believed to have been classified as a murder and attempted suicide, state police have not confirmed that assumption. A search warrant for the Miller home and surrounding property was issued for a criminal homicide investigation.

The search warrant said the couple had a history of domestic altercations.

The couple's two daughters, ages 18 and 4, were home when the shootings occurred and reportedly are staying with relatives.

State police at Stonington and Milton are conducting the investigation. Trooper Kevin Kearney is the lead investigator.

Assisting with the probe are Kelley, state police at Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Point Township, Selinsgrove, Northumberland, Mount Carmel and Mahoning Township police, members of the state police Records and Investigation and forensic unit from Montoursville, Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini and Americus Hose Company of Sunbury.

By 2:30 a.m., police had taped off Catawissa Avenue from Augusta to Reagan streets and also Centre Avenue behind the two-story, white-sided house that has an American flag attached to the front of the structure. Neighbors, who were startled by the shootings, could be seen peeking out their windows as police officers gathered outside the Miller home.

'Decent people'

The early-morning shootings shocked the community.

Wayne Heim, 51, who lives across the street from the Millers at 461 Catawissa Ave., stated, "I never had any problems with them. They were decent people and I never recall them being involved in domestic disputes."

Heim said his wife woke him up after noticing commotion outside their home. "I didn't hear it or see it. But when my wife, Kim, woke me up, I saw nothing but cop cars when I came outside. It's been a rough day," he said Saturday evening.

The neighbor said the Millers rented a home just down the street prior to moving into 454 Catawissa Ave. a few years ago.

Heim said Robin Miller worked at Applebee's along Route 11-15 near Selinsgrove.

Employees about five blocks away from the Miller home at Marlin's Sub Shop on Market Street, who preferred not to be identified, also described the Millers as nice people. The employees, who got to know Michael Miller over the years when he stopped at the popular eatery for lunch or dinner, couldn't believe the 11-year member of the police department apparently shot his wife.

One employee who went to school at Shikellamy with Robin Miller, stated, "I'm absolutely shocked. I wouldn't have dreamed in a million years something like this would happen to them."

Warrant reveals details

According to a search warrant issued Saturday morning by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin, to Trooper James A. Hansel II of state police at Milton, a call was received at 2 a.m. at Northumberland County Communications Center about a domestic disturbance at 454 Catawissa Ave. The caller, who identified herself as an 18-year-old female (believed to be Miller's daughter), said she heard four gunshots fired.

Sunbury police were then dispatched to the scene and found Robin and Michael Miller outside to the rear of the home, suffering from severe head trauma and bleeding. Police said Robin Miller was lying on walkway bleeding profusely from the face and head area. Her husband was found lying on a small back porch bleeding profusely from an apparent wound.

Police said Robin Miller was dead, while Michael Miller was still alive.

A Ruger 9mm pistol was located between the two victims and several spent shell casings were found in the immediate area.