Gunman's Rampage Kills Former Holmdel Resident Saturday

A former Holmdel resident was shot in the head and killed on Saturday in a house in rural Montgomery County outside Philadelphia.

Joseph Shay, 43 of Yarmouth, Mass. and New York, N.Y. graduated from Holmdel High School in 1986. Shay was caught in a gunman's shooting rampage that also claimed the life of a 2-year old boy and critically injured three others. 

The alleged gunman, Mark Richard Geisenheyner, led police on manhunt through the weekend. He was killed Monday by SWAT team gunfire after a six-hour standoff at a house in Trainer, outside Philadelphia. 

Police began a hunt for a suspect after finding five people had been shot at a residence at 50 Renninger Road in Gilbertsville, Douglass Township around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, the victims in Saturday's shooting were identified as Paul Shay and his wife Monica, Joseph Shay, Kathryn Erdmann and her son, Gregory.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Joseph Shay is Paul Shay's nephew, and the boyfriend of 37-year old Kathryn Erdmann of Fall River, MA. 

Both Joseph Shay and Gregory, 2, were shot in the head and killed. 

The toddler's mother shot in the head, as were the Renninger Road house owners Paul Shay, 64, and Monica Shay, 58, of New York, NY. 

By Tuesday evening, 18 Holmdel friends had posted affectionate farewell messages on Joseph L. Shay's webpage vowing they would miss him. 

One message, from Barbara Shay Sigsbury, said, "Sleep peacefully, Joe, we will all miss the incredibly sweet, loving man you had become. So much life was ahead of you. My heart aches.-love, your aunt barbara."

It was a dramatic scene on Saturday night when roughly 40 police officers from about 10 police departments gathered near the scene of the shooting.

A police helicopter circled the area while lights from emergency vehicles colored the handful of houses and a church in the quiet rural community.

The hunt grew in manpower and search territory.

Early Sunday morning, police gathered inside the Douglass Township building while more forces—including a Pottstown K-9 unit and the Chester-Montgomery County Emergency Response Team—arrived. 

Police, armed with a variety of weapons, piled into an armored vehicle and headed toward the crime scene.

The manhunt continued through Monday.

Around 2 p.m., Steele confirmed the suspect, Geisenheyner, is dead.

"Early this morning SWAT units from Delaware County surrounded a home in Trainer," Steele said in a release. "Contact was made with Geisenheyner. It was learned that he was armed and would not surrender."

After an approximately six-hour standoff, SWAT units entered the residence. 

Monica Shay remains hospitalized in critical condition.

"Despite their extensive injuries, (Erdmann) and (Paul Shay) were able to speak to investigators," Steele said via the release. "Both are expected to survive."

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office conducted autopsies on Joseph Shay and Gregory and concluded both victims died of gunshot wounds to the head.

"The manner of death was ruled a homicide," the release states.

For more coverage about the shooting, please see Pottstown.Patch.com