An elderly Pennsylvania man has shot and killed a half-naked intruder who stormed into his home and violently assaulted his wife in their bedroom, police say.
Steven Shaffer, 54, walked into the home of the unnamed married couple in their 70s in Berwick Township around noon on Wednesday.
The intruder started attacking the husband who asked his wife to go into the bedroom to grab his gun.
Shaffer followed her into the room and 'violently assaulted' her on the bed.
State police said the husband then went and grabbed the gun and fired multiple rounds, killing Shaffer.
Both victims were rushed to hospital. The woman sustained serious injuries and remains in critical condition, the police said.
Steven Shaffer, 54, (pictured) walked into the home of the unnamed married couple in their 70s in Berwick Township around noon on Wednesday
Both victims were rushed to hospital (pictured: an air ambulance at the scene on Wednesday). The woman sustained serious injuries and remains in critical condition, the police said.
Neighbors said prior to the attack that Shaffer was wandering around in the street, banging on vehicles.
He eventually marauded into the unnamed couple's home through their unlocked front door.
'Obviously this is a very sad situation,' said Lt. Mark Magyar of Pennsylvania State Police.
'We all have an expectation to safety and privacy in our homes.'
It was unclear why Shaffer chose to enter the home. Authorities do not believe he knew the couple beforehand.
The incident has shocked the local community, home to just over 2,000 people (pictured: emergency crews at the scene on Wednesday)
The incident has shocked the local community, home to just over 2,000 people.
'I actually live down the road like two, three minutes down the road. I was at work and I was just like, here we go again. The world isn't getting any better,' Brooke Forbes of York County told Fox 43.
'It's close to home and you're out with your kids doing things or even home with your kids,' said Amanda Collins of York County. 'Not everyone locks their doors when they're home. You're supposed to be safe in your house.'
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