Dunmore was quiet on Sunday night until gunfire shattered the calm on Mortimer Street. At the center of it all was Frederick Zantowsky Jr., a 47-year-old man whose life ended after a single shot inside his own home.
Police were called to 401 Mortimer Street around 8:31 p.m. on February 8, 2026, after reports of a domestic disturbance. Officers arrived to find Zantowsky suffering from a gunshot wound. The scene was tense, controlled, and deeply personal.
Zantowsky, who lived at the residence, was rushed to Geisinger Community Medical Center. Despite medical efforts, he later died from his injuries, leaving family, neighbors, and the wider Dunmore community searching for answers.
Investigators say the person who fired the shot was still at the home when police arrived. That individual was taken into custody for questioning as detectives moved in to secure the scene, interview witnesses, and collect evidence late into the night.
After cooperating fully with investigators, the shooter was released from custody pending further investigation. Police stressed that this decision does not signal the end of the case, but reflects its early stage and the facts currently known.
Authorities believe the shooting was an isolated incident tied to the domestic situation at the residence. They emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the public, a point meant to ease fears in the close-knit borough.
The Lackawanna County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of Zantowsky’s death. That finding will play a key role as investigators continue to piece together exactly what happened behind the closed doors of the Mortimer Street home.
Dunmore Police acknowledged help from several agencies, including the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, Throop Police, Pennsylvania Ambulance, Pennsylvania State Police forensic teams, and the county coroner. For now, officials say little more can be shared as the investigation remains active.
