Wiconisco Man Charged with Homicide in Roommate’s Death

A Wiconisco man has been charged with criminal homicide after police say he shot his roommate Monday afternoon.

According to State Police in Lykens, they were called to a home in the 200 block of Walnut St. in Wiconisco, Dauphin County, at about 1:30. Emergency dispatchers had received multiple calls of “shots fired” in the area.

One of the calls allegedly came from a Robert Thompson, 56, of Wiconisco, who said he’d just shot his roommate. Police were able to reach Thompson who told them he’d be waiting for them in his front yard when they arrived.

That’s where police found Thompson and they took him into custody upon their arrival at a home he shared with James Leshko, 39.

Police discovered Leshko’s body at the Walnut St. house and he was pronounced dead at the scene. They say a firearm was discovered inside the home that they believe Thompson used in the incident.

Thompson was arraigned before District Judge Hanif Johnson Sr. on Monday night and committed to Dauphin County Prison, denied bail. He’ll be back in court, before Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum, on Sept. 20 for a preliminary hearing. Right now he faces a single count of Criminal Homicide.

NOTE: Wiconisco is just over the Schuylkill/Dauphin county line, located outside Lykens along Route 209.

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