On a summer evening in the Pocono Mountains, the life of David Lee Fleetwood, a 62-year-old Caucasian male, was brought to a sudden and violent end. It was August 5, 2013, and Fleetwood, a respected community member and Air Force veteran from Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, was attending a Ross Township municipal meeting. The assembly was tragically interrupted when a man named Rockne Newell opened fire on the attendees. In the midst of the chaos, Fleetwood acted with selfless heroism, reportedly shielding a woman from the gunman's bullets. He was fatally wounded in the process.
The shooting, which took place at the Ross Township Municipal Building, claimed the lives of two other men, 53-year-old Gerard J. Kozic and 64-year-old James LaGuardia, both of Saylorsburg. Newell’s violent outburst was reportedly the culmination of a long-standing dispute with the township over his property. Before he could inflict more harm, Newell was subdued by two civilians at the scene.
Rockne Newell, who was 59 at the time of the incident, was taken into custody and subsequently arraigned on charges of criminal homicide. His actions left a deep wound in the community, taking the life of a man known for his generosity and dedication to public service. David Fleetwood had retired from a long career with IBM and was actively involved in his community, serving as the Chestnuthill Township Supervisor and the Ross Township zoning officer. His loss was deeply felt by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
