Man shoots his girlfriend then kills himself after losing his job over coronavirus pandemic

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A man has shot himself and his girlfriend after losing his job over the coronavirus pandemic in an attempted murder-suicide, police have said.

Roderick Bliss IV, 38, shot his girlfriend in the back before turning the gun on himself at a Pennsylvania home on Monday afternoon.

Wilson Police officers responded to a call on 54 North 17th Street in Wilson Borough where a 43-year-old woman said she had been shot by her longtime boyfriend.

Bliss was found unresponsive and not breathing with a semi-automatic pistol near his body.


The woman had a gunshot wound to her back.

She told police that days prior to the shooting, Bliss had become increasingly upset about the pandemic and about losing his job.

Minutes before the shooting, the woman said Bliss went into the basement and came outside on the porch with the handgun.

She told officers that Bliss said to her, “I already talked to God and I have to do this.”

When she ran from the home, Bliss fired at her four times, striking her once in the back.

He then shot and killed himself, police said in a news release.

Northampton County Coroner Zach Lysek arrived on scene and later ruled Bliss’s death a suicide.

The victim was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where she underwent surgery.

She is currently in the intensive care unit and is expected to survive, police Chief Chris Meehan said.

Meehan added: “In the days prior to the shooting, Bliss had become increasingly upset over the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Minutes before the shooting Bliss was extremely upset about the pandemic and the fact that he had recently lost his job.

“He went into the basement and came outside onto the rear porch with the victim. While holding the handgun, Bliss told the victim, ‘I already talked to God and I have to do this.’ The victim ran off the porch and he shot at her four times striking her once. Bliss then shot himself.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if Bliss lost his job due to the economic downturn due to the pandemic, Meehan said.

A man who works nearby said he called police after hearing the gunshots.

Sammy Greggs told WFMZ: “I heard four gunshots, so I ran away. I called the police, I ran to the side of the hill and looked down and shouted for help."

Northampton County coroner Zach Lysek ruled that Bliss’s death was a suicide.