On the evening of November 5, 1934, in the small coal-mining village of Kelayres, Pennsylvania, a politically charged atmosphere turned deadly, forever altering the community. Andrew Kostishion, a male resident, was among those caught in a violent outburst that stemmed from the era's fierce political rivalries. As local Democrats held a parade and rally on the eve of a contentious election, the procession passed the home of Joseph James Bruno, the powerful local Republican boss.
Suddenly, the festive air was shattered by the crackle of gunfire. From the Bruno residence, multiple shooters unleashed a volley of bullets into the crowd of men, women, and children. The peaceful demonstration descended into chaos and bloodshed. In the ensuing massacre, Andrew Kostishion was fatally wounded, one of five individuals who would ultimately lose their lives in the politically motivated attack. The other victims were identified as Frank Fiorilla, Dominic Perna, Josh Galosky, and William Forke. The shocking event, which also left many others injured, sent waves of horror through the region and garnered national attention.
The investigation that followed swiftly centered on 'Big Joe' Bruno and members of his family. The subsequent legal proceedings unfolded over a series of four trials. In the second trial, Joseph Bruno was found guilty of three counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Kostishion, Perna, and Galosky. The fourth trial resulted in first-degree murder convictions for both Joseph and his brother Phil Bruno for the death of William Forke, with five other family members being found guilty of second-degree murder. The patriarch, Joseph Bruno, and his brother Phil were each sentenced to life in prison for their roles in orchestrating and carrying out the deadly assault that claimed the life of Andrew Kostishion and four others.
