COOLBAUGH TOWNSHIP -- Two men were found shot to death at a park in the Poconos. The coroner calls the shooting a double homicide
The Monroe County Coroner has identified the victims. They are Bertoldo Velez, 55 and Joseph King, 37. Both men are from Stroud Township and both worked at United Envelope Company in Mount Pocono. The coroner said both men suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Although no arrests have been made, detectives with Pocono Mountain Regional police describe this shooting as an isolated incident, not a random act of violence.
Newswatch 16 was on the scene soon after police arrived. Investigators tell us this: around 2:40 a.m. Friday, an officer discovered two men dead at the Coolbaugh Township ballpark off of Route 423. One victim was found outside a car, the other inside.
Police believe the pair worked together and were apparently shot to death.
The discovery got the attention of people living a mile or so away, including Wayne Horne. He came to talk with police this morning.
“I actually took the day off of work. I was going golfing. Saw the commotion here, last night around quarter after eight I heard some gunshots,” said Horne.
Horne says he didn`t think much of those gunshots since a shooting range is also in the area.
Don Ewing lives right next to the park and says this news wasn't something he expected to hear.
"Especially here where it`s normally so quiet, you know obviously we don`t have a lot of people around and it was shocking to have this happen," Ewing said.
For hours, police remained on the scene along Route 423, near one of the entrances to the Tobyhanna Army Depot where construction workers Floyd Lane and Robert Shupp are working on a project.
“This is just messed up,” said Lane.
“This is kind of odd,” agreed Shupp.
People who work nearby also pointed out the reason this is so surprising is the fact that often times mornings, afternoons, evenings police officers are set up nearby keeping an eye out for speeders on this busy stretch of route 423.
“It`s just kind of ironic that they were here and then six hours, eight hours later, they find that,” said Shupp.
“Last night the police were pulling people over. Police presence is always here. You don`t know any more what`s going to happen,” added Horne.
The Monroe County coroner plans autopsies on both men Saturday morning.
No arrests have been made.