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Police: Suspect On The Loose After Fatally Shooting 6 Family Members In Montgomery County

By Tom Rickert, Chelsea Karnash

LANSDALE, Pa. (CBS) -- Police are searching for a suspect they say is responsible for the shooting deaths of six people and the serious wounding of another at three locations in Montgomery County Monday morning.

The statement on the school district's website reads:

"Due to the fact that law enforcement still seeks the whereabouts of an armed and dangerous local resident, Upper Perkiomen schools will be closed on Tuesday, December 16th. The District attorney has asked that people in our area remain vigilant. 

Decisions regarding re-opening of school will be made on a daily basis, based upon consultation with law enforcement and investigative personnel.  

Your on-going patience and cooperation is appreciated."

After consulting with local police and other area schools districts, the Pennridge School District will open as scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 16 but operate on a modified lock down. That means students will remain indoors and only known individuals will be permitted to enter schools.

Souderton schools will open as normal today, but with no outdoor classes or recess as the search for Bradley Stone continues.

Bradley William Stone
(credit: Montgomery County DA)

Among the victims killed in the shooting spree in Montgomery County is the suspect's ex-wife, investigators said.

Law enforcement authorities in Montgomery County are searching for 35-year-old Bradley William Stone, of Pennsburg.

Investigators say all of the victims have a familial relationship to Stone.

Stone is described as 5'10", 195 pounds, with a red/auburn beard and mustache with closely cropped hair. He is known to use a cane or walker to assist him. Stone may be wearing military fatigues, in either sand or green color.

According to a Marine spokesperson, Stone was a former Marine who served in Iraq in 2008 and was honorably discharged from the Reserves in 2011.

 

Bradley William Stone
Suspect Bradley William Stone. (credit: Montgomery County District Attorney)

 

The search for Stone continued late Monday night in Doylestown, Bucks County after police say they took a report of an attempted carjacking involving someone who's description is similar to that of Stone.

According to police, the alleged victim was walking his dog around 7 p.m. Monday when he was confronted by a suspect carrying a knife and demanded his car keys.

Police say the alleged victim had a gun and shot several times as the man ran into the woods.

The Central Bucks YMCA was on lockdown as a precaution and residents at Stonington Farm were told to shelter in place.

As the search continued in Doylestown, SWAT team members stood in a defensive position outside a home in Pennsburg, Montgomery County. That search began late morning.

Around 11:30 p.m. Monday, Doylestown officials said the shelter in place was lifted and residents to continue to be vigilant.

Stone should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Stone's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.

PHOTOS: Police Respond To Multiple Shootings In Montgomery County

"We actually recovered his vehicle and his personal cell phone, so we do not have information about how he might be traveling," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Investigators say the first shooting happened in Souderton at about 3:30 a.m. During a news conference Monday evening, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said Stone fatally shot his former sister-in-law, her husband and the couple's 14-year-old daughter. Ferman said the couple's 17-year-old son survived being shot and was taken to a hospital in Philadelphia.

Ferman said Stone then went to a home in Lansdale and fatally shot his former mother-in-law and former grandmother-in-law.

According to Ferman, Stone then went to the Lower Salford home of his ex-wife, 33-year-old Nicole Stone, and fatally shot her. Ferman said Stone then took the couple's two daughters, but he dropped them off at a neighbor's home in Pennsburg shortly after.

Listen to the full press conference...

A woman, who witnessed parts of the incident in Lower Salford, spoke to CBS3's Steve Patterson about what she saw.

"I heard four gunshots, and I heard the kids screaming, 'Mommy, no! We want Mom!' the woman recalled. "And I ran into my son's room and looked out the window, and he was actually taking the kids in the car and leaving."

The woman says at that point, she opened her window and asked the suspect if everything was okay.

"He looked at me and just said, 'She's hurt, she's hurt pretty bad. We gotta go, we gotta go.' And he just left."

WATCH: Lower Salford Witness Speaks About Shooting

The deadly shootings remain under investigation.

CBS 3's Todd Quinones contributed to this report.

For the latest on this story, watch CBS 3 at 4:30 a.m., listen to KYW Newsradio and get updates anytime right here on CBSPhilly.

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