Bedford County man held in killing
Rhoads faces manslaughter, murder charges in crossbow shooting
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A Liberty Township, Bedford County man was arrested Sunday after allegedly killing a man with a crossbow, Bedford County Court documents stated.
Alec P. Rhoads, 24, was arraigned Sunday by Magisterial District Judge Brian Baker on charges including criminal homicide, first-degree murder, third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, according to court documents.
Pennsylvania State Police reported Rhoads allegedly shot Daren D. Lingenfelter, 53, in the throat with a crossbow, then fled the scene without trying to help Lingenfelter.
The incident occurred about
10 a.m. Sunday in Liberty Township after Rhoads allegedly took a crossbow from a bedroom, saying he wanted to shoot it, a witness told state police.
Lingenfelter was reportedly standing in the bedroom, talking with the witness, when he was struck in the neck with a crossbow bolt, a criminal complaint stated.
Wounded and bleeding, Lingenfelter fell onto a bed as the witness raced out of the room, screaming and saw the crossbow on the floor, police reported.
When asked what happened, Rhoads allegedly said the victim was playing with the crossbow and it went off, but the witness said she was with Lingenfelter in the bedroom and nowhere near the crossbow, court documents stated.
Rhoads then said he was loading the crossbow to put it down, according to a criminal complaint.
Despite Lingenfelter's injuries and several people rushing to provide medical aid, Rhoads allegedly made no effort to help the dying man and fled the home when 911 was called, a witness told police.
During a police interview, Rhoads allegedly said he knew one of the home's occupants, but he didn't know the victim and wasn't at the home at the time of the incident, nor could he remember the last time he was at the residence, police reported.
A second witness, who is acquainted with Rhoads, said he did not see the incident occur, but he did see Rhoads in the residence directly after, court documents stated.
Police reported video footage showed Rhoads near the scene shortly after the incident.
Rhoads, however, told police he was elsewhere mowing a lawn, but when police talked to the lawn's owner, he said Rhoads didn't show up until about an hour or two after the incident, police reported.
The owner also told police Rhoads denied shooting Lingenfelter but refused the owner's advice to go to police, because Rhoads allegedly had outstanding warrants, a criminal complaint stated.
Rhoads' bail was denied because he is charged with first-degree murder, and he is currently imprisoned at Bedford County Jail, according to court documents.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled with Baker for June 2.
Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.