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Randall Rushing, 25, is accused of slaying 3 people in a Scranton home in July.
SCRANTON – A man accused of brutally slaying three people in a home last month was charged Friday with first-degree murder in Lackawanna County.
Randall Rushing, 25, was formerly arraigned on three counts of criminal homicide for allegedly killing Justin Berrios, 20, and brothers Dustin Hintz, 22, and Leslie Collier, 16, who were found bludgeoned to death at 1604 S. Irving Ave. on July 17.
Four people were found unharmed inside of the home in the city’s south side.
The ones who did survive were Cynthia Collier, 43, and her son Matthew Collier, 21, his sister Samantha Hintz, 19, and her 2-year-old son Tristan Berrios.
Authorities captured Rushing in Wilkes-Barre several hours after the murders in Scranton.
Rushing was charged with three counts each of first- and third-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery, and two counts of second-degree murder, according to First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico.
Prosecutors also filed charges of receiving stolen property and indecent assault, Talerico said.
An on-and-off romantic relationship between Samantha Hintz and Rushing was a motive arrest papers indicated, which likely led to the killings.
The two were having problems in the weeks prior, and Hintz told police she intended to end the relationship, according to a police criminal complaint filed by Scranton police.
Hintz’s brother, Matthew Collier, who was left bound and gagged with his mother in his room on the morning of the slayings in July, told police Rushing was a “jealous boyfriend” who suspected his sister of having many sexual relationships with other men.
Rushing was renting an area in the basement of the Scranton home. He would leave for a few days, but returned two days before the murders.
It was an early morning on a Thursday when officers responded to the two-story home for a reported shooting.
Police found large amounts of blood throughout the home, the affidavit stated. Officers discovered the bodies of three males in separate rooms.
Hintz was found bound with her hands behind her back and legs tied on the bed of an upstairs bedroom, according to police. On the floor next to her was the body of Justin Berrios, who had been covered by a blanket, police said.
Berrios is the father of Hintz’s son, Tristan, who was found alone in a crib in a nearby bedroom, police said.
In a later interview, Hintz told police she arrived home that morning when she was met at the front door by Rushing. They’d go to the upstairs room where Rushing told her he wanted to play “cops and robbers.”
A struggle ensued, police said. Rushing pulled out a handgun and pointed it in Hintz’s face.
Rushing allegedly forced Hintz on the bed and told her, “Just shut up and I’ll let you live so you can tell the cops.” He then leaned into her, according to the police complaint, and kissed her neck, leaving a hickey, and said, “This should last until the trial.”
Rushing is currently being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19.