On February 1, 2021, a grim scene unfolded in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, where three bodies were discovered following a murder-suicide. This tragic event in the normally quiet town was precipitated by a fierce dispute between neighbors over snow shoveling.

At that time, Plains Township, along with other parts of the Northeast, was grappling with a severe winter storm that caused extensive disruptions, including flight cancellations and school closures. Snowfall exceeded 30 inches in some areas, leading to numerous traffic incidents on icy roads.

However, the deaths of 50-year-old James Goy and his 48-year-old wife, Lisa Goy, were no mere accidents. They were shot and killed by their 47-year-old neighbor, Jeffrey Spaide, outside their home on that frigid morning. After the shootings, Spaide went back into his house and committed suicide.

This account details the shocking murder-suicide committed by Jeffrey Spaide and the strained relationship with his neighbors that led up to the tragedy.

Jeffrey Spaide's "Ongoing Dispute" With His Neighbors

Jeffrey Spaide was born on June 16, 1973, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He pursued higher education locally at Wilkes University before attending Villanova University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering.

Spaide was a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy in the 1990s, later joining the U.S. Army National Guard and the U.S. Navy Reserve. He also built a career as an engineer over two decades. Despite his accomplishments, his life took a tragic turn following an encounter with the Goys.

According to The Citizens' Voice, there was ongoing animosity between Spaide and the Goys, characterized by several disputes over the years.

"Apparently, there's been an ongoing dispute between neighbors, some of which involved a dispute about snow disposal and removal," explained Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce. "They're across the street from each other, and when they would remove snow they would throw it across the street at the other person's property."

Despite their tumultuous interactions, the conflicts between Spaide and the Goys were never officially reported. Spaide was not well-known to local police until the deadly dispute that ended in tragedy.

Inside Jeffrey Spaide's Murder-Suicide

On February 1, 2021, a dispute broke out between Jeffrey Spaide and his neighbors, James and Lisa Goy, outside their homes in Plains Township, Pennsylvania. The argument, not unlike previous ones, centered around the issue of snow shoveling.

NBC News reported that the Goys had cleared snow from their parking spaces and disposed of it across the street on Spaide's property. Spaide came outside to confront them and asked them to stop, but they refused. The situation quickly escalated into an intense verbal exchange, with both parties trading insults and threats.

"I'll make your life a living hell living here, d**khead," James Goy angrily shouted at Jeffrey Spaide.

Spaide replied, "What?… F**k you, you f**king scum." Then, James' wife Lisa yelled, "You're the f**king scumbag. You don't know how to talk to somebody." James continued, "That's right… You're a p***y, p***y, p***y."

The entire altercation was caught on surveillance cameras, including its violent turn. In the footage, Spaide can be seen moving down his driveway towards the Goys, visibly armed with a gun.

James urgently told Spaide to "put the gun down," but Spaide ignored the plea. He opened fire, striking James first and then targeting Lisa. Injured, James tried to escape, calling out to other neighbors to "call the cops," but Spaide shot him again before he could reach safety.

As Lisa lay wounded, she cried out, "You f**ker, you!" Despite then retreating to his house, Spaide's rampage was not yet over, as reported by CNN.

Plains Township Police Chief Dale Binker explained that Spaide entered his house not to cease the attack but to switch his handgun for an "AR-style rifle" to continue his assault on the Goys, effectively "executing them."

Before fatally shooting them, one of the last things Spaide told his neighbors was, "You should have kept your f**king mouth [shut]." He then went back inside his home where he used a third rifle to take his own life.

The Aftermath Of The Snow-Shoveling Shooting

The police arrived at the tumultuous scene just before 9 a.m. that day. Earlier, residents had already heard multiple rounds of gunfire. It was reported that Spaide was seen pacing inside his home shortly before the final shot rang out, marking his suicide.

Upon their arrival, authorities found the Goys' bodies outside, covered in snow. They soon discovered Spaide's body inside his residence. The investigation quickly concluded that Spaide had murdered the Goys before committing suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The violent murder-suicide and the profanity-laced altercation that preceded it elicited strong reactions from the public.

Many expressed compassion for the Goy family, particularly because the couple left behind a 15-year-old autistic son who is now in the care of his grandparents. A woman in France, claiming to be a relative of the Goys, lamented that the couple did not "deserve a tragic death like cattle."

On the other hand, some defended Jeffrey Spaide, suggesting that he had been subjected to prolonged bullying by his neighbors and had finally reached his breaking point. Others were simply astounded that a dispute over snow shoveling could escalate to such deadly violence.

However, one fact remains clear: both Spaide and the Goys leave behind many loved ones who deeply wish that the events of that morning had unfolded differently.