It appeared to be a first date — James Thomas picked up Chinese food on New Year’s Eve and took it to a Hempfield home where he planned to hang out with the woman living there.
State police said Thomas, 47, was eating his meal when Robert D. Naugle Jr., the estranged husband of the resident, barged in, pulled out a pistol within seconds and fired it 10 times, killing Thomas.
“(Thomas) basically just got himself put in a bad spot between two individuals,” Trooper Steve Limani said. “It never had to happen.”
Authorities released additional details Friday about the fatal shooting on Hugh Street, off Donohoe Road near the Westmoreland Mall, that resulted in Naugle’s arrest.
Limani said the 8:30 p.m. shooting unfolded quickly — Naugle, 30, didn’t say anything to his estranged wife, Emily Naugle, or Thomas, before opening fire as Thomas ate.
“He had a fork in his hand,” Limani said.
Robert Naugle filed for divorce in November and moved out of the Hugh Street home two days before the Wednesday shooting. He and Emily Naugle had planned to get together at the home on the evening of New Year’s Eve, but she canceled, according to court papers.
When Robert Naugle went to the Hugh Street home about 8:30 p.m., he saw an unfamiliar vehicle parked there, police said. He grabbed the pistol and unlocked the door with a key he still had, stepping into a room where Thomas, of Bradenville, was eating. Naugle reportedly told police he pulled the trigger 10 times, aiming at Thomas’ torso. It was unclear how many times he was struck by gunfire.
“Within seconds, (Naugle) is unloading a handgun into another human being that he never engaged conversation with, did not know,” Limani said. “This individual was not hanging around or a part of any past relationship with Mr. Naugle’s wife.
“He had no idea who this individual was, just saw another person in the house and started shooting.”
Afterward, Naugle checked Thomas’ pulse and called 911, according to court papers.
“I walked in on my wife with another man, and I killed him,” he said to 911 dispatchers according to court papers.
The Naugles’ four children were home at the time, including one in a crib in the room where Thomas was killed.
Emily Naugle was not hurt, nor were any of the children.
“Obviously, he had the ability and the means to shoot his wife if … he felt the need to,” Limani said.
The Naugles were married Jan. 15, 2022, in Somerset County, according to the divorce filing. Police responded to the Hugh Street home about a year and a half ago for a domestic dispute, Limani said.
Thomas was a firefighter with the department in Bradenville. He had a 12-year-old child.
The Bradenville fire chief declined to comment.
“It seems like (Thomas) was very well-liked. Even his ex-wife had nothing but good things to say about him,” Limani said.
She could not be reached.
Naugle did not have an attorney listed in online court records. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail on a homicide charge. A Jan. 14 preliminary hearing is scheduled.
