Hempfield Township love triangle: Robert Nagule Jr shoots and kills James ‘Jimmy Thomas after catching man having dinner with his estranged wife at his former house in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of shooting and killing a man he found having dinner with his estranged wife at the family house after the woman cancelling dinner plans with her estranged husband.
Robert Naugle Jr., 30, is alleged to have walked into his former Greensburg home, walked past his child in a crib, and without speaking, shot and killed the stranger, later identified as Derry Township volunteer fireman, James ‘Jimmy’ Thomas.
The episode according to WTAE happened on New Year’s Eve at a Hempfield Township residence just on 8.30 p.m. At the time of the shooting, Nagle is alleged to have fired no less than ten shots.
Hempfield Township love triangle
Authorities say no argument took place. Four children were inside the home at the time, including an infant in the same room. After the incident, police say Naugle called 911 and admitted to what had happened.
Police say Naugle told them, ‘I walked in on my wife with another man, and I killed him.’
PSP Greensburg arrived to the home after that call and took Naugle into custody without incident. Thomas’ body was found in the basement with multiple gun shot wounds.
Naugle had filed for divorce in November 2025 and moved out of the home two days earlier according to his estranged wife, Emily Naugle.
Pennsylvania state troopers surmise unwitting victim was shot during first dinner date
‘It’s hard to fathom,’ PSP Trooper Steve Limani said on Friday. ‘Some people thought that there was some type of a strange love affair. [James Thomas] was simply sitting there, consuming Chinese food on what he probably believed to be like a first date, possibly of a woman who was separated from her husband and was going through the divorce process.’
Emily described Thomas as a friend to state police. The victim leaves behind a 12-year-old son.
While state police had given Naugle harassment citations in the past, no protection-from-abuse orders were ever filed by the woman he lived
Naugle is charged with criminal homicide and is being held at the Westmoreland County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 14.
