Standoff Suspect Charged with Planning to Kill Wife

A pane of smashed glass likely saved the life of a Middletown Township woman whose estranged husband was inside her house and planning to kill her, police said.

John Bush, 66, of Aster Lane in Bristol Township’s Levittown section, was charged late Wednesday night with attempted murder, attempted rape, burglary, aggravated assault and persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.

Bush’s wife, who is currently in the process of getting divorced from him, arrived to the home she once shared with him in the 800 block of Walsh Road and discovered glass smashed out of rear door, police said. She noted that there was possible entry into the home and called police instead of entering the home.

Middletown Officer Derek Leonhauser and Officer Paul Runner arrived to the house and spoke with the woman at approximately 6:10 p.m.

Leonhauser entered the home after the woman unlocked the front door for him and heard a man’s voice coming from the living room. Once in the room , he discovered a man – later identified as Bush – sitting on a chair and holding a black handgun, according to court documents.

The officer drew his service weapon, concealed himself behind a wall about three to four feet from where the armed Bush sat and ordered him to drop his gun, police said. “No,” Bush told the lawman.

Leonhauser then said he was a police officer and ordered the 66-year-old to drop his gun two to three more times, authorities said. Bush, according to court documents, said “no” again.

At that point, police said Bush aimed the gun at Leonhauser, who escaped the house unharmed.

Local and state police arrived to the scene and began a nearly hour-long standoff in the quiet middle-class neighborhood.

Sgt. Matthew Kroiss was able to make contact with Bush and the armed man agreed to surrender peacefully, police said.

At around 7 p.m., Bush was taken into custody.

Detective Andrew Amoroso spoke with Bush’s estranged wife and uncovered the two had not lived together in a year, according to court documents. Police said the woman had a Protection from Abuse order barring contact filed against Bush, which he later acknowledged during questioning.

Further digging revealed Bush had prior felony convictions, which meant he could not legally possess any firearms, police said.

Bush was interviewed by investigators at the Middletown police station.

During the interview, Bush said his wife had filed divorce papers and he had no intentions of divorcing her, according to police.

Bush detailed his plan to police. According to court documents, the Bristol Township man said he broke into his wife’s home with the intention to strip her naked, sexually assault her and then kill both of them, court records state.

The black .45 caliber Derringer style handgun had on him during the standoff was obtained last year at a yard sale in Virginia, Bush told police. He also said to investigators that he had fired shots from the weapon in the past.

Bush was remanded to Bucks County Prison in Doylestown in lieu of 10 percent of $5 million bail.

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