A Lowe’s employee shot and killed a coworker early Saturday morning at the home improvement store on Viewmont Drive in Scranton, Pennsylvania, according to police.
Authorities say Christopher M. Wasnetsky, 36, was taken into custody after he called 911 to report the shooting. Police arrived at the store at 12:36 a.m. on June 14, 2025, where they found the victim, Jeff Moeller, lying on the floor in a pool of blood with several gunshot wounds.
Wasnetsky told the 911 dispatcher that he was responsible for the shooting at the Dickson City Lowe’s. When asked why he did it, he cited ongoing harassment and other unresolved issues.
Officers discovered four spent shell casings near Moeller and found a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic handgun on the ground by a shopping cart about 30 feet from where Moeller lay. The gun appeared empty, with a loaded magazine and a live round located nearby.
Emergency medical teams transported Moeller to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, where he died from his injuries. Police found Wasnetsky waiting at the store entrance and arrested him without resistance.
During interviews with detectives, Wasnetsky described his motivation and actions in detail. He claimed Moeller had been harassing him for several months and management had not resolved the situation. Wasnetsky confessed that he purchased the handgun specifically to target Moeller and practiced firing it in his backyard before the shooting.
Store surveillance video documented the event. The footage shows Moeller operating a forklift when Wasnetsky approached with a shopping cart, pulled a pistol from the cart, and began firing at Moeller from about five feet away.
According to police, Wasnetsky admitted to shooting Moeller in the chest without warning. After Moeller fell and called for help, Wasnetsky said he did not want his coworker to suffer and proceeded to shoot him several more times in the head and chest.
An autopsy performed Saturday by the Lackawanna County Coroner determined Moeller died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.
Wasnetsky faces two counts of aggravated assault—one general and one involving a deadly weapon—and is being held at Lackawanna County Prison pending further legal action.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said additional charges are likely to be filed Monday after the autopsy is finalized. Officials expect the initial felony assault charges to be upgraded in light of Moeller’s death.
Lowe’s, through senior director of external communications Meagan Bernstein, expressed that the safety of their employees and customers is their highest priority, calling the shooting a senseless tragedy. The company said it is fully cooperating with investigators.
The incident took place during the overnight shift, a time when there are typically fewer employees and customers present. Both Wasnetsky and Moeller were reportedly working their usual shifts when the shooting occurred.
Police collected evidence including surveillance recordings, the firearm, shell casings, and Wasnetsky’s confession. Authorities have called it a case of workplace violence, noting that the suspect contacted them immediately after the crime.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities consider further charges and continue to examine all details of the case. Wasnetsky’s statements that he purchased the gun with intent to harm Moeller and practiced beforehand could factor into decisions regarding premeditation and charge severity.
Both men lived locally—Wasnetsky in Dalton, Pennsylvania—and the incident has deeply affected the Scranton Lowe’s employees and the surrounding community.
