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EATON TWP. — Shortly before he allegedly opened fire and killed three people inside the Weis Market early Thursday, Randy Stair left a chilling final tweet.
“Goodbye humans…I’ll miss you….” Stair wrote under the Twitter handle Andrew Blaze.
After his “pre-planned” rampage, officials say Stair killed himself inside the Wyoming County store, which was closed to customers at the time.
Stair, 24, lived on Ransom Road near Dallas in Franklin Township, authorities report. The victims have been identified as co-workers Victoria Todd Brong, 25, of Avery Station Road, Factoryville; Brian Hayes, 47, of Springville; and Terry Lee Sterling, 63, of Shady Lane Park, South Montrose.
Another person inside Weis was able to escape and call 911.
According to investigators, Stair blocked all entrances to the store before opening fire with two 12-gauge shotguns.
Troopers in Tunkhannock received a call from Wyoming County 911 at approximately 12:50 a.m. Thursday for a report of someone shooting at people inside Weis Market, 600 Hunter Highway, according to a news release.
Capt. Jon Nederostek said Stair arrived at the store at approximately 10:52 p.m. Wednesday for his scheduled shift that started at 11 p.m.
Stair then assumed his normal duties for approximately one hour and 40 minutes.
“During this time frame, he began fortifying all the exits of the doors, blocking them so people could not get in or out,” Nederostek said.
At approximately 12:37 a.m., Stair was seen on surveillance leaving the store and returning to his car. Nederostek said Stair moved the car against the building to block an emergency exit, then retrieved two 12-gauge shotguns and “over 100 rounds” of ammunition from the vehicle.
Stair then re-entered the store at 12:41 a.m. and locked the final door behind him.
“Stair then proceeded to begin shooting throughout the store, ultimately killing the three victims,” Nederostek said.
Jeff Mitchell, the Wyoming County district attorney, sent a press release stating Stair did “extensive damage” to the interior of the store by “shooting up different aisles and counters.”
Stair also shot propane tanks in the store, “presumably to ignite them,” Mitchell said.
Before beginning his attack, Stair sent a text message to his mother at 12:37 a.m “that was basically a suicide note,” but his mother was asleep at the time, said Mitchell.
According to Capt. Nederostek, a preliminary investigation revealed Stair fired 59 shots while inside the store, and an additional 49 live rounds were recovered from throughout the building.
Nederostek said investigators are following “many, many leads” but declined to comment on a potential motive.
“This is another senseless act that didn’t have to happen,” Nederostek said. “It’s a tragedy, and it’s going to be a lot of recovery for the families involved.”
When asked about a rumor that the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department was somehow notified of the incident beforehand, Nederostek declined to comment.
Stair made a video of himself walking through the store just before the shooting.
“It is obvious this was pre-planned,” DA Mitchell said. “There is no question social media played a role in this tragedy.”
The investigation is ongoing.
According to Times Leader research, Stair did not have a criminal history.