Three Killed, Four Injured In Rampage By Florida Electrician

By a Biometrica staffer

An electrician who got into a fight with coworkers killed three and left one more injured in Florida, authorities said.

Shaun Runyon was temporarily working at a public supermarket for a Pennsylvania-based electric company, and was living with his coworkers in Davenport, 35 miles southwest of Orlando in central Florida. The residence he was living in was later identified as one being rented by J & B Electric, Inc.

Runyon got into an argument with his supervisor at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Oct. 1 and after heated words were exchanged, he punched the man and left, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, AP reported. 

He then returned to the residence he shared with seven coworkers and their families and went on a rampage with a baseball bat and a knife. Runyon killed one man in his sleep, while a second victim was found dead on the porch. A third, who was also beaten, later succumbed to injuries in hospital.

Runyon also chased a fourth man onto the street and hit him, while a sixth managed to escape with his family, which also included a young child. Runyon then fled the scene, prompting the police to launch a manhunt.

Eventually he showed up at the home of a couple in Lake Wales, still wearing the bloodied clothes he had on him at the time of the attack. He claimed to the couple that he had been raped and they urged him to go to a hospital. When he did so, he was arrested by police on Oct. 3.

Runyon, who is 39 years old and is from Nazareth, has been charged with three counts of first degree murder and one charge of aggravated battery.

Authorities did not reveal the identities of the victims, The Hill reported.

“He knew all of these victims. We have no idea what outraged him so bad that more than 24 hours later he would come back and make an attempt to kill every one of them,” Sherriff Judd said in a press conference, adding: “It’s a horrific scene. He stabbed and beat people inside the residence. He has confessed to our detectives.”

Runyon also faces charges of violent crime back home, LeHighValleyLive.com reported. In May this year he was charged with strangulation, a second-degree felony. 

There were other misdemeanor charges, including endangering the welfare of children, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment but he was freed after posting 10% of the $75,000 bail.

He is scheduled for formal arraignment and a pretrial conference on Oct. 14.