PA man upset over coronavirus shots girlfriend, kills himself

Pennsylvanian man distraught about losing his job due to the coronavirus spread shot his girlfriend and killed himself in an attempted murder-suicide, police said.

According to the Wilson Borough Police Department, authorities were called to the home of Roderick Bliss IV, 38, around 1:20 p.m. on Monday for reports of multiple shots.

When arrived, officers found Bliss unresponsive with "obvious gunshot injuries" and a pistol by his side, police said in a press release.

They also found his girlfriend, 43, suffering from a gunshot wound to the back, the press release stated.

“She was taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill and is expected to survive,” police added. 

“In the days prior to the shooting, Bliss had become increasingly upset over the COVID-19 pandemic,” police quoted Bliss’ girlfriend and other witnesses. “Minutes before the shooting, Bliss was extremely upset about the pandemic and the fact that he had recently lost his job.”

“He went into the basement and came outside onto the rear porch with the victim. While holding the handgun, Bliss told the victim, ‘I already talked to God and I have to do this.’ The victim ran off the porch and he shot at her four times striking her once. Bliss then shot himself,” the statement noted.

The murder comes as the violence experts in the US have repeatedly warned that they are concerned about the condition of those who may have to seek shelter somewhere unsafe, if the pandemic forces stay-at-home orders to be issued.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's health advisers announced on Tuesday that models show between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could die from the even if the country keeps stringent guidelines in place.

Over 4,000 people have already died due to the illness caused by the coronavirus in the US, more than the 2,977 who died in the 9/11 attacks.

The total confirmed US cases has now risen to nearly 188,600.