Man shoots ex-wife in legs & arms after breaking into her Lebanon County home

Darrell Lynn Long, 62, was taken into custody Tuesday, March 25, when he presented himself at state police barracks in Lickdale following an incident at a North Lebanon Township residence in which he allegedly shot and severely injured his ex-wife.

Police said in the affidavit that Long is currently without a permanent residence but receives mail at a Jonestown address.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Lebanon County Regional Police were dispatched around 5:17 p.m. Tuesday to a North Lebanon Township residence on the 1700 block of North 7th Street after a female caller reported being shot by her ex-husband, who was later identified by police as Long.

Officers arrived on scene to find the 55-year-old victim bleeding from gunshot wounds to both of her legs and both of her arms. Police said the woman had also sustained trauma from a blow to her head.

The woman told police that the defendant, Long, had entered the home and struck her in the head and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene in a white GMC Acadia.

The woman was transported to Penn State Hershey Medical Center by First Aid & Safety Patrol. Police said she had suffered serious bodily injury but is now in stable condition.

Long turned himself in to the Pennsylvania State Police at the Lickdale barracks within hours of the shooting.

Lebanon County Regional Police then took custody of Long, who was mirandized and interviewed. Police said Long confessed to pistol-whipping the victim and shooting her multiple times.

“He stated he wanted to make her suffer like he has suffered and said he shot her in the knee so she’d have pain every time she walked,” Lt. Detective Gregory Behney said in the affidavit.

A .22-caliber Walther pistol was recovered in a white GMC Acadia registered to the defendant. Police said Long drove himself to the barracks in the vehicle, and that .22-caliber shell casings were recovered from the residence where police had been earlier.

Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said in a release that evidence revealed Long had fired at least four rounds at the woman.

According to the affidavit, after being “blocked” by the woman, Long had been sending messages intended for her to their adult child, including one in which Long said he had a direct line of sight into the woman’s residence. A final message was sent 18 minutes after the shooting was reported to police, in which Long said that he stole the gun out of his nephew’s truck.

Hess Graf said that the incident represented a terrifying instance of domestic violence.

“The defendant broke into his ex-wife’s home with the sole intent of causing her terror and physical pain,” said Hess Graf in a statement. “The defendant purposely shot the victim in a way to maim her and cause her to suffer for the rest of her life – a daily reminder of his brutal attack.”

Hess Graf said she was thankful the victim survived and for the efforts of Lebanon County Regional Police and county detectives.

According to court documents, Long is being held at Lebanon County Correctional Facility and faces three felonies, including two charges of aggravated assault and one of burglary.

He was arraigned Wednesday, March 26, in front of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Verna. Bail was denied as it was “only way to protect victim.” A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 8 a.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Kim R. Wolfe.