SAYRE, PA — A deadly altercation unfolded Friday afternoon in a Sayre home when a man was forced to defend himself against a violent and prolonged assault by his wife’s ex-husband, resulting in a fatal shooting.
According to the Athens Township Police Department, officers responded to a report of gunfire at 210 Vista Drive at approximately 3:40 p.m. on October 3, 2025. Upon arrival, officers found 59-year-old John J. Kraus suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported by Greater Valley EMS to Robert Packer Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Police say the incident began when 57-year-old David Hancock and his wife—Kraus’s ex-wife—were visiting Kraus’s mother at the residence. Both were inside the home by invitation.
Without warning or provocation, Kraus reportedly attacked Hancock in the living room, slamming him to the floor and knocking over furniture. Witnesses stated that Kraus pinned Hancock and repeatedly punched him in the head and face. Kraus then grabbed a nearby picture frame and continued striking Hancock, breaking the frame and glass in the process.
Despite being severely injured and bleeding from the head, Hancock remained pinned under Kraus. Hancock told police he believed Kraus intended to kill him, prompting him to draw his legally concealed firearm and shoot Kraus twice in self-defense.
Responding officers observed Hancock bleeding heavily from the head and holding a blood-soaked shirt to his injuries. He was also treated at Robert Packer Hospital.
Police confirmed that Hancock and all witnesses remained on scene and fully cooperated with the investigation. The case remains under review, but initial findings suggest the use of deadly force was consistent with Pennsylvania law, which permits such action when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to protect themselves from death or serious bodily injury.
Thankfully, Hancock was armed and able to draw his concealed handgun while under a brutal and sustained attack. Although Kraus was unarmed in the conventional sense, he used an improvised weapon—a picture frame with glass—to repeatedly strike Hancock in the head while pinning him to the floor. The force and nature of the assault, combined with Hancock’s visible injuries, highlight why Pennsylvania law permits the use of deadly force in self-defense when faced with an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. This case serves as a stark reminder that a deadly threat does not require a firearm—violent intent and the means to cause serious injury can justify a defensive response.
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