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Chester County Man Facing First And Third Degree Murder Charges

By Jim Melwert

CHESTER COUNTY, PA (CBS) -- A 22-year-old Spring City man is facing first and third degree murder charges after allegedly confessing to shooting a romantic-rival in North Coventry earlier this week.

It happened early Wednesday morning, the victim, 20-year-old Nicholas Mruczak staggered into his Highland Manor apartment with a shotgun wound to his chest, says Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

"And he told his roommates, 'I'm going to die, tell my father I love him," said Hogan. "When police showed up to administer first aid, he said it was Zach 'L' who shot him, who was his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend."

According to court documents, 22-year-old Zachary Ludwig allegedly admitted to the murder, telling detectives about two weeks before the shooting, he bought an unregistered .410 bore shotgun and sawed down the barrel. According to the documents, after he shot Mruczak, he threw the gun in the French Creek.

Police say he led them to the creek, and they recovered the weapon. Ludwig is held without bail.

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