The man charged in the death of an Enola lawyer told police he had been stealing guns for an unidentified organization in an effort to overthrow the U.S. government, according to the Cumberland County district attorney.
Raymond Franklin Peake, 64, of Hampden Township, refused to name the group but said he would kill to defend his country, authorities said.
North Middleton Township police arrested Peake on charges of homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy in the July 21 killing of Todd Getgen, 42, at a Pennsylvania Game Commission shooting range in the township.
Peake told police that he found Getgen dead at the rifle range and then took his rifle, authorities said.
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said Sunday that he had no additional information on Peake's possible involvement with any attempt to overthrow the government. Freed said that Peake remained in Cumberland County Prison on Sunday night.
Police also arrested Thomas Franklin Tuso, 34, of Duncannon, on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy in connection with the storage of Peake’s stolen rifles at his home in Perry County, Freed said. He said Tuso was free on $100,000 bail.
The men, who worked as corrections officers at the Camp Hill state prison, are to have preliminary hearings Aug. 9 before District Judge Paula Correal.
Freed said Getgen was shot several times with a gun he didn't own. A vacationing federal park ranger taking target practice found Getgen's body, Freed added.
A North Middleton Township police spokesman said Sunday that after Getgen's body was found, people at the range reported seeing a man drive away in a vehicle with a military license plate. He said that police had several composite renditions made of the suspect.
Susan McNaughton, a state Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said the men have been suspended without pay.
Joseph N. Gothie, a spokesman for Stella Getgen, Todd Getgen's widow, called this "an extremely difficult time" for her and Ethan Getgen, the victim's 6-year-old son.
"Due process will take its course," said Gothie, who graduated from The Dickinson School of Law with Todd Getgen in 1997. "The suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence. The due process Todd never got will be afforded to the defendants, and the courts will do their job professionally. Stella is very happy there's been an arrest."