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ANDREW TUTINO atutino@leader.net
Saturday, February 05, 2000 Page: 3A
HAZLETON – A day after a West Hazleton woman died of injuries from a
Jan. 22 shooting, city police charged a 22-year-old man with involuntary
manslaughter.
Anthony DeFuso of Hazleton was arraigned Friday on misdemeanor charges of
involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and providing
alcohol to minors.
DeFuso is accused of negligently shooting Joe Ann Flanagan, 25. Flanagan
died of her injuries Thursday at Community Medical Center in Scranton. Police
say she was shot in the abdomen.
Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas said investigators waited to
see if Flanagan recovered from her injuries before they pursued charges
against DeFuso. City police and Lupas’ office investigated.
DeFuso stood quietly at his arraignment, speaking softly as reporters
leaned over a railing in the courtroom to hear the exchanges between him and
District Justice Joseph Zola.
According to arrest papers:
DeFuso and a friend, Anthony Labuda, 19, were drinking alcohol at DeFuso’s
home at 155 W. Berner Ave. in the city late Jan. 21 into the morning of Jan.
22.
Flanagan arrived at the home at about 1 a.m. Jan. 22. Labuda drank four
beers and DeFuso consumed six beers before Flanagan’s arrival, Labuda told
police.
After Flanagan arrived, the three went into DeFuso’s bedroom to continue
drinking when DeFuso retrieved a gun and holster from a closet. He put on the
holster and the three continued to drink, Labuda told police.
After wearing the holster for a short time, DeFuso removed the .45 caliber
Colt semi-automatic handgun from the holster. He placed the gun’s hammer in
the firing position while one bullet was in the chamber.
Flanagan, who was sitting on the bed with DeFuso, took the gun and began to
handle it, Labuda told police. After a few minutes, she handed the gun back to
DeFuso. Later, DeFuso had his finger on the trigger and his thumb on the gun’s
hammer.
“It appeared to Labuda that DeFuso was attempting to allow the hammer to
go forward by pulling the trigger while holding the hammer with his thumb and
slowly releasing it. At that time, the weapon discharged,” according to
arrest papers.
DeFuso began yelling “Oh no. Oh no,” and Labuda ran from the room and
left the home.
DeFuso also gave a similar statement to police, according to arrest papers.
The arrest affidavit said that when police arrived at DeFuso’s home, they
found him holding a towel on Flanagan’s wound. DeFuso initially told police he
accidentally shot Flanagan. She was screaming “It hurts” and “Please don’t
let me die,” when officers arrived. The officers also heard her say DeFuso
accidentally shot her.