Pa. Police: Ex-Marine Wanted In 6 Killings Found Dead

Rebecca Bellecci Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A police vehicle is seen near a home in a suburb of Philadelphia where a suspect in six killings was believed to be barricaded in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, December 15, 2014. | (Photo: Reuters/Brad Larrison)

Pennsylvania police have confirmed that a war veteran wanted in the deaths of six people was killed by self-inflicted gunshot wounds in Philadelphia on Tuesday, after sparking over a day-long manhunt.

Police began searching for suspect Bradley William Stone after he allegedly shot his ex-wife and five of her relatives at three different residences early Monday morning. Stone, who was in a bitter custody battle for his children with his ex-wife, reportedly drove to each of the homes, a few miles apart, to commit the murders.

The manhunt for Stone caused several schools near the suspect's home in Pennsburg, near Philadelphia, as well as Veteran's hospitals, to go into lockdown on Monday and Tuesday. Stone was a former Marine sergeant from the Iraq war, and police found his body Tuesday with self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the woods near his home.

According to ABC News, on Tuesday morning Stone killed his ex-wife, former mother-in-law, former grandmother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law and 14-year-old niece. A 17-year-old nephew suffered gunshot wounds but was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

The former marine reportedly dropped his two children off at a neighbor's house before beginning his ruthless shooting spree.

A friend of Stone's, Matthew Schafte, told ABC News that he reportedly "broke down in tears" upon hearing of the massacre.

"I would describe him as a laid-back guy -- loving his family, loving his country. I know he had issues with his children over a custody battle or something," he said. "A decorated veteran, who would do anything for his country, anything for anybody."

"I just broke down in tears. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it, because this isn't the Brad that I know."

"A couple of months ago, I was hanging out with him, we sat down and had a drink," he added. "We were just talking about old times, how everybody was doing, and he told me he was going through some things with his kids, but that's about it."