In a tragic turn of events on the evening of February 12, 2024, Cheryl Bencivengo Schilling, a 58-year-old female, was fatally shot in her home in the Columbia section of Knowton, New Jersey. The incident unfolded after her husband, Kevin Schilling, offered a place to stay to an acquaintance, 38-year-old Armond Anthony Avitable of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Avitable had been ordered to leave his own residence earlier that day following a domestic dispute.
Shortly after arriving at the Schillings' home, an argument broke out between Avitable and the couple. The situation escalated dramatically when Avitable retrieved a pump-action shotgun from the downstairs area of the house and fired a shot. As the Schillings retreated to an upstairs bedroom for safety, Avitable followed them.
He proceeded to open the bedroom door and fire two more shots, striking Cheryl in the arm and upper left torso.
After the shooting, Avitable fled into the backyard where he encountered neighbors sitting around a fire. He reportedly told them that he 'had to shoot her' because he believed Kevin Schilling was coming for him. Avitable then fired two additional shots at the house before leaving the shotgun on the neighbor's property and fleeing the scene. New Jersey State Police responded to a 911 call around 7:49 p.m. and found Cheryl Schilling with severe injuries. Despite medical aid rendered at the scene, she was pronounced dead at approximately 8:28 p.m. Her death was later ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
Law enforcement located Avitable a short distance away near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 46. While being taken into custody, Avitable engaged in a physical altercation with the State Troopers. After he was subdued, he experienced a medical emergency. CPR and medical aid were administered, and he was transported to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. An investigation into his death, as is standard procedure when a death occurs during an encounter with law enforcement, is being conducted by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.
