Son-in-law shot, killed elderly couple in Pennsylvania home with kids in next room: police

Man charged with killing in-laws with wife, children inside home

A family tragedy unfolded in Palmer Township Tuesday night when police say a husband and wife were shot to death by their son-in-law, with his wife and children just feet away.

PAMLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A family tragedy unfolded in Palmer Township Tuesday night when police say a husband and wife were shot to death by their son-in-law, with his wife and children just feet away.

What we know:

Officers responded to a home on Glasgow Way after receiving multiple calls from neighbors about a domestic dispute.

They arrived to find a man standing at the front door with a gun. He initially refused to drop his weapon, but was detained after eventually complying.

He was identified by police as 34-year-old Xiaomin Fei, and is said to be the son-in-law of the couple found shot on the floor inside the home.

The husband, 74-year-old Robert Ackerman, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, 75-year-old Gretchen Ackerman, was rushed to a local hospital, but was dead upon arrival.

Police say the suspect's children, aged 4 and 5, along with his wife were inside the home when the shooting happened. The children were later discovered in a room next to where their grandparents were found.

The wife and children were not injured during the incident.

Dig deeper:

Police say Fei was served divorce papers within 24 hours of breaking into his in-laws' home and shooting them to death.

He had just purchased a gun the afternoon of the double homicide, according to authorities.

Fei is charged with criminal homicide, burglary, reckless endangerment and related offenses.