Man in jail after Monroe shooting

Just before 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, David Richard Green walked into the Paradise Township building and shot sewage enforcement officer Michael Paul Tripus, 65. Tripus died at the scene.

Green, 72, of Henryville, did not attempt to escape arrest, but instead waited in the hallway of the municipal building for the police to arrive. He has been charged with criminal homicide and was arraigned before Magisterial District Justice Philip Riley.

Green covered himself with a yellow tarp or poncho as he was led into the magistrate’s office, telling reporters, “I’m really sorry for what I did.”

Online court records don’t list an attorney who could speak on Green’s behalf.

It remained unclear what motivated the shooting.

A neighbor told police that Green had been having ongoing problems with his residence, including mold and septic issues. He had been having trouble getting permits from the township.

Court documents said Green told police he was under pressure and was having problems with his new house, including mold. But he said Tripus — the township’s sewage enforcement and building code officer — had nothing to do with the problems and acted professionally when he showed up unannounced Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint issued by the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop N, Stroudsburg, Green entered the building shortly after employees arrived for work, and asked zoning enforcement officer Deborah Brady for “Mike.” Brady told state police that she directed Green to Tripus. She reported that shortly after returning to her office she heard a single gunshot.

Brady contacted 911 before she and other co-workers entered Tripus’ office, where they observed him slumped over in his chair, bleeding from the mouth. Brady told police that although Tripus was unresponsive, she began to administer CPR and continued until EMS arrived on the scene.

Brady and township secretary Tina Transue told the state police that Green remained in the hallway until his arrest.

During her interview, Transue told the investigators that Green said, “I shot him.” She said Green “was pacing the hallway with his head in his hands.”

Green told the arresting officers that although he said he was there specifically to see Tripus, he did not know why he shot him. Green added that he was under a lot of pressure related to issues with his new home, where he had mold problems. He said his previous residence burned down in December 2017. Green told police he had previous dealings with Tripus at his previous residence. Green admitted that the gun was his, he had a permit to carry, he usually carried the gun in his pocket, and that he keeps the gun loaded with a round in the chamber.

Tripus lived in Stroudsburg and had been employed by Paradise Township for two years. Before Green left the township building, he told police he wanted to apologize to the victim’s wife.

He remains in jail with no bail set.

Pennsylvania State Police were assisted at the scene by Pocono Mountain Regional Police and Pocono Township Police.

This is the second shooting at a municipal building in Monroe County. In August 2013, Rockne Newell opened fire at a Ross Township meeting. Three people were killed.

The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors offered its condolences Tuesday to the Paradise Township Board of Supervisors and staff.

“As we have learned in the wake of the Ross Township shooting five years ago, township elected officials and employees serve on the front line of public service and sometimes find themselves in harm’s way. In today’s world, townships must balance the demands of community safety and public access. Our thoughts and prayers are with Paradise Township and the families affected.”