PALMER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Xiaomin Fei, A 34-year-old Nazareth man, is facing double homicide charges after fatally shooting his in-laws Tuesday evening in a Palmer Township 55-and-over community. The attack occurred hours after he was served divorce papers by his wife.
Violent attack
Officers with the Palmer Township Police Department responded around 7 p.m. Tuesday to multiple 911 calls reporting a disturbance at 18 Glasgow Way in the Highlands at Glenmoor community. Dispatchers described screaming, crying children and two men arguing — one reportedly yelling, “Think about what you are doing,” and the other replying, “I’m not thinking.”
Officers arrived to find Fei, 34, standing in the doorway of the home, pointing a revolver at his head. Fei dropped the weapon after repeated verbal commands and was taken into custody.
The victims have been identified as Robert and Gretchen Ackerman. Robert was pronounced dead at the scene; Gretchen later died at a nearby hospital.
While clearing the home, officers found Fei’s two children, ages 4 and 5, visibly shaken. They were safely removed from the home and taken to a neighbor’s residence.
Authorities confirmed that Fei’s wife, Katherine Ackerman, was also inside the home during the shooting but was not physically harmed.
Affidavit details probable motive
Fei told police he was “upset” after receiving divorce papers from Katherine that morning, according to the affidavit of probable cause. He claimed his wife and her parents had locked him out of their home and prevented him from seeing his children.
Fei purchased a revolver and ammunition from a gun store around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, just 2 hours before the attack. When his wife refused to let him into the Ackermans’ home, Fei retrieved a hammer from his car, used it to break a window panel near the front door, and entered the house.
Legal proceedings underway
Fei has been charged with two counts of criminal homicide, burglary, and recklessly endangering another person. He is being held without bail at Northampton County Prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 18 at Northampton County Court.
Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said responding officers were “professional and heroic” in a statement to The Morning Call.
A chaplain was called to provide victim support, and Fei’s wife and children were with them for several hours. Authorities said the incident was isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The investigation remains ongoing. Updates will be reported as new information becomes available.
Requests for comment from Baratta and the Palmer Township Police Department were not returned in time for publication.
