DA: Fatal shooting of neighbor occurred on day of scheduled eviction; suspect lit apartment on fire before taking own life

Update 4 p.m.: Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf’s office shared further details of the incident in a press release Friday afternoon.

The DA’s office said that 62-year-old Duane Ulmer shot and killed a neighbor early Friday morning before returning to his own apartment, which he lit on fire, and taking his own life.

Ulmer, the DA release said, had caused various issues in the apartment building over the preceding months, and city police had been called there multiple times. However, the release notes that no prior calls included violence or threats of violence.

The owner of the building filed to evict him, and according to court records cited by the DA’s office a constable was scheduled to evict him Friday morning. The DA’s office said there was no sign that Ulmer planned to voluntarily vacate the apartment.

Ulmer was described as angry and constantly complaining by people who knew him, the DA’s office said in the release. The eviction was filed on the basis of non-payment of rent, threats to harm neighboring tenants and the property owner, and hostile behavior, according to the release.

Ulmer did not attend the eviction hearing on March 18, and the court granted the eviction, the DA’s office said.

According to the release, Ulmer was the subject of a case referral with the Lebanon County Area Agency of Aging earlier this year, but after multiple attempts and efforts to engage him, the agency was turned away, and Ulmer refused to sign any paperwork.

According to the DA’s press release, Ulmer approached a neighboring apartment with a firearm at approximately 4 a.m. Friday morning, the day of his scheduled eviction, and fired through an exterior window. A 55-year-old male injured in the shooting was found by Lebanon police at the scene and taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

After firing on the other apartment, Ulmer returned to his apartment, where the DA’s office says he started the fire intentionally before taking his own life.

Tips can be submitted to Lebanon City Police by calling 717-272-6611 or submitting a tip on Crimewatch, or to the Lebanon County Detective Bureau by calling 717-228-4403.

Update 12 p.m.: Lebanon City Police have released an update on an incident Friday morning involving two gunshot victims and an apartment fire.

Police said the first individual discovered this morning, a 55-year-old male, has died. Police found him suffering from apparent gunshot wounds when they responded to the 500 block of South 9th Street at approximately 4 a.m. Friday, April 11. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment before succumbing to his injuries

Police said the second individual, a 62-year-old male who was found dead in a burned apartment unit, died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Identities of the two men are being withheld pending notification of family. No ongoing threat to the public has been identified, police said, and preliminary investigation has indicated the individuals were known to each other. Find LebTown’s original report below.

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Original story: One person was killed and another injured by gunshots Friday morning in Lebanon, in an incident that also involved an apartment fire.

Lebanon city police issued a press release at 8:47 a.m. Friday, April 11, about an incident on the 500 block of South 9th Street, where officers found one individual suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and another already dead from gunshot wounds.

Police said they were called at approximately 4 a.m. Friday for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located one individual suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said that emergency medical services were immediately requested and the individual was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

According to the news release, police observed smoke and flames coming from a nearby apartment unit while on scene. Fire services were notified and the fire was extinguished. Afterwards, police searched the unit and located the body of a person inside who had also been shot.

Police said the incident remains under active investigation, and that detectives believe both incidents are related and the individuals involved were known to each other.

Lebanon city police ask anyone with information to contact the department by calling 717-272-6611 or submitting a tip on Crimewatch.