Montgomery County, PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 29, 2009

 

 

 

 

         

 

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Horsham Township Police Chief Robert H. Ruxton today announced the arrest of David Janus for the killing of his son, Brian Janus, in Horsham Township on June 28, 2009.  The District Attorney has authorized that David Janus be charged with Third Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaughter, and related offenses.

On Sunday, June 28, 2009, at approximately 7:00 PM, Horsham Township Police were dispatched to a report of a shooting at a residence located at 246 New Road, Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  David Janus had called 9-1-1 from the residence and reported that he had “shot my son.”  
 
Horsham Township Police Officers arrived at 246 New Road and made contact with David Janus outside the home.  Janus stated several times, “I'm sorry I shot my son, I’m sorry I shot my son.”  Officers entered the home and found Brian Janus lying at the bottom of the basement steps.  Brian Janus had an apparent gunshot wound to his chest, and a rifle and a spent cartridge case were found next to him on the floor.  Brian Janus was transported to Abington Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:43 PM.  An autopsy was performed today on Brian Janus’ body.  It was determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest and that the manner of death was homicide.

Horsham Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives commenced a joint investigation into the shooting death of Brian Janus.  Detectives interviewed David Janus, and he admitted to shooting his son, Brian Janus, inside the house with a rifle.  David Janus indicated that his son Brian had been arguing with his younger brother, Kevin Janus, and his mother, Patricia Janus.  Both Kevin Janus and Patricia Janus left the residence prior to the shooting.  After they left the residence, David Janus related that the argument continued between himself and Brian Janus.  According to David Janus, just before the shooting, Brian Janus went into his bedroom in the basement of the home.  David Janus said that he then went upstairs and retrieved a hunting rifle and forced open a locked filing cabinet containing ammunition.  David Janus related that he obtained one live cartridge from the filing cabinet and loaded the rifle on his way back to the basement where he again confronted his son.  David Janus pointed the loaded rifle at his unarmed son and pulled back the hammer.  David Janus told detectives that, at this point, the gun went off striking his son.

 

David Janus will be arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Harry J. Nesbitt, III.  The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrea Grace and Assistant District Attorney Katherine McGill.

 

      Approved for release:
   
   

 

      Risa Vetri Ferman