A Monroe County man has been arrested and charged with fatally shooting a township official Tuesday morning inside the Paradise Township Municipal Building.

David Richard Green, 65, of Swiftwater, allegedly killed Michael Tripus as they both sat inside his office around 8 a.m.

In interviews with police, Green said he had only once met Tripus, who served as sewage enforcement officer and assistant zoning officer in Paradise township.

People working in the office Tuesday heard the gunshot and found Green pacing outside Tripus’ office, and a gun on the desk. Green was seen pacing outside the office, and putting his head in his hands. He allegedly told another employee of the office that he shot Tripus.

Employees saw Tripus bleeding from the mouth and attempted to perform CPR until EMS arrived. Green remained standing outside the office until police arrived at the scene and arrested him.

A black handgun was found sitting on Tripus’ desk.

Prior to the shooting, employees noticed an unidentified man, later determined to be Green, sitting in his car outside of the Paradise Township municipal building. The shooting occurred just a few minutes after the building opened for the day.

When questioned by police, Green said he was ‘under pressure’ and was dealing with problems including including mold and medical problems. He said old home had burned down in December 2017 and he was having problems with his new home.

A neighbor interviewed by police confirmed that Green was having problems with his home, and stated that may have been part of his motive.

Green initially refused to be interviewed by police, but later assented, and admitted to shooting Tripus. Green contradicted himself when speaking to police about his previous dealings with Tripus. At one point he stated that he never met him before, at another he said he met him at his old house when Tripus was checking on a neighbor’s septic, and at another time he said Tripus and he had dealings in regard to his old house.

Green was arraigned and locked up without bail at Monroe County Correctional Facility.