Couple identified as victims of suspected murder-suicide in Clairton home

CLAIRTON, Pa. — A Clairton man shot his wife and then himself Wednesday morning at their home, police said.

Officers and paramedics were called shortly after 8 a.m. to School Street for a woman who was unresponsive on a porch. Louise Lewis, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Robert Lewis, 72, was found dead inside the home, with the front door left open, police said.

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Neighbor Tujwina O'Conner told Channel 11 she saw a small explosion at the home while she was out shoveling her driveway.

"Literally, I could hear just this bang, and I saw flames coming literally at the bottom where the tree is at, it's the basement," she said.

She said before she could get across the street, she saw her neighbor lying on the front porch, and that's when she called 911.

"The screen door was on her chest," O'Conner said.

Police said the victim's husband went into the basement and turned on the gas, then shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself.

Investigators said a strong odor of natural gas was detected at the home when first responders arrived and a fire was found around a clothes dryer. The fire was put out and crews shut the gas off.

"You wouldn't want any better neighbors than them," said neighbor James Garvey. "It was just a great family, great people. It's very sad."

Cox Media Group