A Northeast man has admitted to using a high-velocity crossbow to shoot and kill his new wife inside their Willits Road home on Sunday night, according to the commander of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Capt. James Clark said on Monday that Paul W. Kuzan, 41, provided a full confession when interviewed by detectives, although police have not disclosed details about what may have motivated the violence against his spouse of nine days, Pamela Nightlinger, 42.
Kuzan has been charged with murder, possessing an instrument of crime and violating Pennsylvania’s “offensive weapons” statute, which generally prohibits possessing or dealing in objects such as brass knuckles, switchblade knives, stun guns, Tasers and blackjacks that “serve no common lawful purpose.” Although possessing a crossbow as a hunting weapon is not a crime in the state, using it to harm someone qualifies as one, a police spokeswoman said.
The bloody attack happened at about 9:19 p.m. on the 3100 block of Willits Road. According to published reports, neighbors said they heard arguing at the Kuzan-Nightlinger household leading up to the violence.
Police arrived on the block in response to a 911 call regarding “a person with a weapon.” They found Nightlinger near the door of a neighbor’s house suffering from a penetrating wound to her chest.
Nightlinger and a witness told police that the victim’s husband had shot her with a crossbow inside of her home.
Capt. Anthony Ginaldi told news reporters at the scene, “The bolt from the crossbow penetrated her body, went through the couch and embedded in the wall. … (Nightlinger) ran next door to the neighbor’s for help, where she collapsed in the doorway. … She eventually collapsed on the front lawn.”
Police soon found Kuzan inside his home and arrested him there.
According to published reports, neighbors said they saw Kuzan emerge from his home naked before police arrived. One neighbor told a Philly.com reporter that she heard Kuzan standing in his doorway making unitelligible statements. Other neighbors reportedly told the news agency that they heard Kuzan admit to the slaying.
Authorities didn’t say when Nightlinger lost consciousness. She reportedly lost a lot of blood and was rushed to Aria Health’s Torresdale campus, where she was pronounced dead at 10:34 p.m.
Kuzan and Nightlinger were married on June 17. They each had children from previous marriages, but none were at home at the time. Some of the children were visiting relatives in upstate Pennsylvania, Ginaldi said.
Kuzan is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 13. He has been denied bail. Court records show that he has three prior arrests in Philadelphia. They include a 1998 DUI/assault case, a 2002 assault case and a 2015 prostitution case. ••
