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By JOE HEALEY jhealey@leader.net
Friday, February 04, 2000 Page: 7A
SCRANTON – A West Hazleton woman accidentally shot in the stomach on Jan.
22 died Thursday in a Scranton hospital.
Joanne Flannagan, 25, was shot in the stomach by her friend, Anthony
DeFuso, 22, at his home at 155 W. Berner Ave. in Hazleton, police said.
She died about 8:30 a.m., said Jane Gaul, a spokeswoman at Community
Medical Center in Scranton.
DeFuso was questioned by police for several hours and released.
Hazleton Police Chief Ed Harry said the 3 a.m. shooting still appears to be
accidental. He said an autopsy will be performed today in Scranton. When he
gets the autopsy results, he will meet with members of the Luzerne County
District Attorney’s Office to determine the next step.
“We should know after we talk to the DA’s Office if charges will be
filed,” Harry said. No arrests have been made.
He would not reveal any details of what happened, although he said there
was not a dispute or argument between Flannagan and DeFuso before the
shooting.
He added that a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol was used. The gun is
registered to DeFuso, Harry has said.
Call Healey at 829-7225.