Divorce leads man to kill parents, self

EAST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man who was apparently upset that his ex-wife had been awarded their home in their divorce was found dead early Thursday, several hours after he shot at her and later killed his own parents.

Bruce Rogal, 59, died after a manhunt and a police chase that ended when he crashed his car at the West Bradford Township home he had shared with his wife, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said.

State police said at least one trooper shot at Rogal following the crash, but it’s not clear if he returned fire. A gun was found in his car, authorities said.

No troopers were injured, authorities said.

Rogal had received word of an order finalizing the divorce that authorities said was mailed on Wednesday and “that appears to be what set him off,” Hogan said.

Rogal first went to the house where his ex-wife was in the driveway changing her car’s oil, shot at her and missed. He then drove to a retirement center in East Goshen where he shot and killed his parents, William and Nancy Rogal, who were both in their late 80s.

Rogal then drove off, and police soon sent out an alert about the car he was driving. State police spotted the vehicle driving past the agency’s Embreeville Barracks shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday, and a chase ensued that also involved SWAT team members.

Aided by a police helicopter, the troopers were able to follow Rogal a few miles into the West Bradford neighborhood where his ex-wife lives and where the initial shooting incident happened.

Court documents obtained by the Daily Local News in West Chester, Pennsylvania, showed Rogal’s exwife had filed an order of protection from abuse against him in 2015, shortly before filing for divorce.