Following a four-hour virtual preliminary hearing before Monroe County Magisterial District Judge Michael Muth, an East Stroudsburg man was bound over to court on murder charges relating to a shooting incident on Jan. 19 in his home.

Randy Halterman, 66, is charged with criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault. He is currently incarcerated at the Monroe County Correction Facility.

In affidavits, Stroud Area Regional Police say he shot and killed Adam Schultz, 20, and shot and injured Schultz’s girlfriend, Chasity Frailey, in a building off Route 447 in the township that was inhabited by Halterman.

At issue in the preliminary hearing of the case, which has generated much attention on social media, is the meaning of self-defense, and more particularly, the castle doctrine.

The castle doctrine in Pennsylvania fits within the law of self-defense. In cases where the doctrine applies, the law creates a presumption that a defendant had a reasonable belief the use of deadly force was immediately necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping, or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat.

Testifying at the preliminary hearing were detectives Robert Transue, Emily Raymond and Wendy Serfass. Frailey was called by and questioned by Halterman’s attorneys. The court also viewed numerous photographs of the scene, the prior testimony of Frailey, and a short recorded interview of Frailey by detectives Miller and Knowles taken the night of the shooting while Frailey was hospitalized.

At the time of the arrest, police said they responded to the shooting scene at 2040 Paradise Trail in the township for a report of shots fired within the residence. When responding officers arrived, they took Halterman into custody.

Officers said they found Frailey lying on her back and claiming to have been shot in the stomach. She was calling out a name and the officers then located Schultz, who was nearby lying face down dead.

Police said Frailey had gunshot wounds of the upper chest and abdomen and was transported to a hospital via helicopter.

Police said Halterman told police them he heard noises and people talking inside his home. He retrieved his .22 caliber handgun and upon finding the man and woman in his home he fired shots at them. Halterman contended he fired approximately four more shots, striking the victims, and then telephoned 911.

Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso said the issues presented in the Halterman case, like those of all others involving claims of justification by self-defense, will be decided at trial.