What's New
A case of mistaken identity during a home invasion in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, has left a 25-year-old man dead and his 61-year-old mother paralyzed.
The Context
Recent data indicates that Pennsylvania's crime rates have experienced notable changes. According to the Pennsylvania State Police's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the total number of reported crimes decreased from over 313,000 in 2018 to approximately 310,000 in 2022. 
However, the violent crime rate per capita has fluctuated during this period, with recent increases bringing it back to pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, the violent crime rate in Pennsylvania rose by about 7.6 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. 
These statistics highlight the dynamic nature of crime trends in Pennsylvania, with overall crime rates showing a general decline, while violent crime rates have experienced recent increases, particularly in urban areas like Philadelphia.
What We Know
In the early hours of December 8, 2024, two men broke into the home of Bernadette and Andrew Gaudio, believing it contained a cache of guns.
The assailants, seeking to steal firearms, targeted the wrong residence, leading to devastating consequences.
Newsweek has contacted the Montgomery County Police Department for further comment.
Bernadette Gaudio, bedridden due to a medical condition, was shot multiple times, resulting in paralysis.
Her son, Andrew, was fatally shot in the back of the head as he attempted to protect her. Despite her injuries, Bernadette managed to call 911 during the attack.
Both men have been charged with first-degree murder and are being held without bail.
Authorities have revealed the pair worked at a local junk removal business called Junkluggers in Willow Grove.
The intruders fled with a jewelry box and the family's Jeep Cherokee, both later recovered by authorities. Investigators traced the suspects through a vehicle spotted at the scene, leading to their arrests. A 3D printer and a 9mm ghost gun, believed to be the murder weapon, were found at one suspect's residence.
What People Are Saying
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement: "They went to the house with bad intentions and shot an innocent 61-year-old woman as she lay in her bed, and they executed her 25-year-old son. The motive in this case was to steal guns. And they simply got the wrong house."
Neighbor Scott Richard, who has known the Gaudio family for 15 years, told CBS: "You never think anything like this is going to happen like next door to you. I just do not for the life of me understand how another person can take another person's life. I do not get it."
What's Next
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to understand how the suspects targeted the wrong house and to ensure justice is served for the Gaudio family.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press
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