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Shooting suspects arrested in Carbon

An Ashfield couple has been charged in a Luzerne County shooting Saturday night.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Kenneth Santos of the Pennsylvania State Police, Hazleton barracks, in the case against Shaine Hawk and Robin Sterner:

At 5:38 p.m. Saturday, police were notified of a shooting on Peat Moss Road, Dennison Township.

Officer Gilbert Diaz of the White Haven Police Department was dispatched to Nature Way for a report of a male gunshot victim.

Diaz said he found the victim, who had blood covering his head and face.

The victim said he was shot in the head at his residence by a “Steve Koch.”

The victim reported Koch shot him with “buckshot,” and that after being shot he ran into the woods and both Koch and the woman chased him.

The victim was taken by EMS personnel to Geisinger Wilkes-Barre.

Police interviewed the victim at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital, where he said that a woman named “Robin” and Shaine Hawk arrived at his residence.

The victim explained he met Hawk via Facebook Marketplace as he attempted to purchase solar panels.

He described “Robin” as a white woman in her early 20s with red hair and multiple ear piercings, and described Hawk as a thin white man about 5-feet, 9-inches tall with blonde hair and scruffy facial hair, and with tattoos on his arms.

The man said both Robin and Hawk had been to his residence on several occasions. He said a potential agreement was made for Robin to work with him but was never finalized.

Police asked about his initial report that he had been shot by “Steve Koch.” He said police misunderstood what he was saying.

The victim said he observed a bronze-colored GMC or Chevy Trailer Blazer. He said Hawk was in the rear of the vehicle on the driver side behind Robin, and that Hawk said the victim owed him something.

It was at this point that the victim heard a loud bang and saw the flash. The victim said he was hit in the face, and he immediately ran into the woods near his residence to escape. The victim said he heard about two additional gunshots as he was running.

The victim said he believed both Robin and Hawk had chased him and that he traveled to a nearby neighbor’s residence for aid.

He said communications with Robin and Hawk had been through Facebook messenger and by phone.

Police found the name of “Robin and Shaine Hawk” in the notebook at his house.

Police confirmed a romantic relationship between Sterner and Hawk and that they have children together.

The victim identified both Hawk and Sterner in a lineup.

Lehighton Borough Police Chief Troy Abelovsky said Tuesday afternoon that felony arrest warrants were issued for Hawk and Sterner.

Hawk, 29, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and recklessly endangering, and Sterner, 23, for conspiracy to commit, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless endangering.

Abelovsky said that at 11:20 p.m. Monday, Lehighton Borough Police were contacted about the suspects by the Pennsylvania State Police and U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. Both suspects were believed to be held up in the 300 block of South First Street in Lehighton and were considered armed and dangerous. There were also reports of additional occupants within the residence.

Abelovsky said Pennsylvania State Police organized a team consisting of U.S. Marshals Task Force, four units from the Lehighton Borough Police Department, two units from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and multiple state police units.

Police cleared other residents from the building, including a 3-year-old child and two other children.

He said a four-man tactical team was able to gain access into the bedroom and take Hawk and Sterner into custody.

Both Hawk and Sterner are incarcerated in lieu of $500,000 bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Dec. 12 before District Judge Ferris P. Webby Sr. of Mountain Top.