On a cold February morning in 2021, a quiet street in Plains Township, a community near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, became the scene of a tragedy that would claim three lives. James Goy, a 50-year-old man, and his wife, Lisa Goy, were outside their home clearing snow from their vehicles after a major snowstorm. A seemingly ordinary winter chore soon escalated into a fatal confrontation with their neighbor from across the street, 47-year-old Jeffrey Spaide.
The dispute began when the Goys shoveled snow from their property onto Spaide's. This act sparked a heated verbal exchange, a culmination of what was reportedly an ongoing source of tension between the neighbors. The argument intensified, with James Goy allegedly throwing a tool he was using to clear his car and approaching Spaide in a threatening manner. Spaide retreated into his home, but the yelling continued.
Moments later, Spaide emerged from his house armed with a handgun. Despite the visible threat, the shouting persisted. Spaide then opened fire on both James and Lisa Goy. After the initial shots, he went back into his house, only to reemerge with an AR-15-style rifle and shoot both victims again. The entire horrific event was witnessed by others in the neighborhood, who promptly called 911.
When police arrived at the scene, they found James and Lisa Goy deceased in the street. As they approached Spaide's residence to make an arrest, they heard a single gunshot from within. Upon entering the home, they discovered that Jeffrey Spaide had taken his own life. The investigation concluded that Spaide was the sole person responsible for the deaths of James and Lisa Goy, and the case was closed as a murder-suicide. The couple left behind a 15-year-old son, who was not present during the incident.
