Stalker reportedly shoots ex’s brother in arm, kills himself
Dustin Scott Hoffman
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, a domestic violence incident turned deadly in Honey Brook Borough, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said.
Hogan said Dustin Scott Hoffman, who turned 29 two days ago, was stalking his former girlfriend, with whom he has a child, and the woman fled to a residence in the 4800 block of Horseshoe Pike in Honey Brook. Hoffman showed up at the residence and demanded that the woman come outside, Hogan said.
Instead, the woman’s brother arrived at the residence and told Hoffman to leave, Hogan said. Hoffman refused, a physical altercation ensued, and Hoffman pulled a gun and shot the woman’s brother, Hogan said, adding that the bullet went through the man’s arm and lodged in his hip. Hoffman then turned the gun on himself, committing suicide with a single shot to the head, Hogan said.
The brother was transported to Reading Hospital, where he is in stable condition, Hogan said. Hoffman was pronounced dead at Brandywine Hospital, Hogan said.
Hogan said Hoffman, who lived in Reading, had a pending simple assault charge involving the same woman he was stalking, including a bail condition that he have no contact with the woman. Hoffman had prior convictions for assault, drunken-driving, and sex offenses, Hogan said.
A Honey Brook Borough Police officer initially responded to the scene; the Chester County Detectives then responded and assisted with crime scene processing and investigation, Hogan said.
“This case is an example of the deadly potential of domestic violence. If this young woman would have come out of the residence to meet with Hoffman, she would have been murdered,” said Hogan. “Instead, her brother was shot protecting his sister and Hoffman is dead. This is yet another reminder that domestic violence cases can accelerate to extreme violence in a flash and must be treated seriously by the criminal justice system.”
