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Troopers: Son killed father over dementia fears

Police say an 83-year-old was shot to death at a home near Kunkletown.

MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — State police say a man shot and killed his father because he feared the older man had dementia.

It happened Friday morning in a neighborhood near Kunkletown.

Rick Colatrella is charged with criminal homicide for the shooting death of his father, 83-year-old Nicholas Colatrella.

Troopers say it happened inside their home on Birch Lane near Kunkletown.

Taylor Adams lives two doors down.

"And I just saw like about 6 or 7 cop cars. And throughout the day, I was just like peeking out and stuff, and around 12 o'clock, I saw the coroner pull up,” said Adams.

According to court papers, troopers were first called to the house at 3 a.m. for a disturbance.

Investigators say Rick told them he suspects his father was suffering from dementia; he was waving a gun around, believing that an intruder was in the house.

They say Nicholas Colatrella also thought one of the troopers was his son.

Several hours after troopers left, a similar incident happened and Rick Colatrella told state police that's when he decided that he had to kill his father.

Investigators say the son told them that he shot his father due to his possible dementia and his reckless behavior of pointing the gun around the house numerous times.

Court papers say Rick Colatrella shot his father three times in the head, then called 911.

One neighbor was willing to talk with Newswatch 16 but didn't want to show his face.

“I have a six-year-old daughter and hear something like that happen, it's pretty scary.”

Rick Colatrella is charged with one count of criminal homicide. He's locked up without bail in Monroe County.

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