'Straight A student' accused of killing mum, brother initially 'blamed father'

A 14-year-old boy has been accused of shooting his mother and eight-year-old brother once each in the forehead as they slept and calling 911 to insinuate his father did it, Pennsylvania state police said.

Jacob Remaley called 911 just before 7am Wednesday (local time), saying his mum and younger brother were dead and his father placed a gun in his bed before leaving the house, State Police Trooper Stephen Limani said at a news conference.

The teen later told police he took a gun from on top of the refrigerator, loaded it and then shot Dana Remaley and Caleb Remaley after his father, David, went to work, police said.

Remaley also allegedly told police he would have shot his father, too, had he been at the home.

An ambulance was first to arrive on the scene. Workers gave the teen a blanket and started to question him when he went back inside the home to get the firearm, Limani said.

The workers were not trained to deal with someone with a gun so they retreated from the home until police responded.

During the time before troopers arrived, Jacob Remaley had walked down the street carrying the gun and met a neighbor who engaged him in conversation and led him to discard the weapon, police said.

"That neighbour did a very good job in de-escalating the situation," Limani said.

"The last thing we want to do is approach a 14-year-old with a firearm."

The only indication of a motive is that the teen and his parents weren't getting along lately, Limani said.

However, his relationship with his little brother was seemingly good, especially considering their age difference, he said.

A friend of the family described Jacob Remaley as a polite, kind, straight-A student who was involved in sports and in church.

Anita Stoner told WTAE-TV her son is a good friend of the boy's, and she was friends with Dana Remaley.

"He's such a good kid," she said. "If you could pick a friend for your kid it would be Jacob."

She said Dana Remaley was generous and always willing to lend a hand.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without her," she said. "She was always there for me."

Jacob Remaley was still being medically treated Thursday, and mental health evaluations were pending, Limani said.

He is awaiting arraignment on two counts each of criminal homicide and first-degree murder, charged as an adult.