MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The Mechanicsburg Police Department was dispatched to the 300 block of West Allen Street on Oct. 11 to investigate a reported gunshot wound victim shortly before 5:30 a.m.
The victim was receiving treatment at a local hospital when officers decided to conduct a safety sweep of the home, which is when they located the suspect, Timothy Zidik, 62.
When Zidik was called outside to talk with officers, he denied shooting the victim. He additionally acknowledged owning firearms but stated that none were kept in the home and that he was in his bedroom on his computer with headphones on when he heard the gunshot.
Officers discovered a large amount of blood evidence inside the home, as well as what appeared to be a bullet hole in the victim's bedroom. It was also noted by police that the scene had been partially cleaned at this time.
Under the victim's mattress and on top of the box spring, police discovered a loaded Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 caliber handgun. The rounds in the handgun appeared similar to the rounds found embedded in the wall, according to the affidavit.
Upon searching Zidik's bedroom, officers discovered two composition-style notebooks, which contained "exorcism spells, prayers and writing in an unknown language."
Police noted one entry in particular in the affidavit that read, "Forgive us, criminals of purpose, for the sins that we are force to commit. Mother the merciful, Bless our firearms with your hand, our knives with your foot, and guide our bullets and stabs with the finger that is closest to your heart. May we earn your need and be your wrath amen."
Over the course of the investigation, police learned that the victim was shot around 1 a.m. while sleeping alone. When the victim awoke, she called for Zidik who then helped treat her injury and cleaned the scene at her direction.
Zidik then took the victim to the hospital around 4:30 a.m., but the police were not notified of the shooting until hospital staff reported the incident.
Police reports stated that based on the victim's injury and lack of stippling, which is caused when unburnt gunpowder strikes skin, the gunshot wound was not self-inflicted. Additionally, the victim denied shooting herself, owning a firearm or having any prior knowledge of a firearm being in the residence.
On Oct. 12, officers learned that Zidick went to Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center with a self-inflicted stab wound to his abdomen.
On Oct. 15, Zidik called the victim at 9:57 a.m. and admitted to shooting her, but claimed it was an accident. Zidik further stated that he had the gun prior to the shooting, and placed it under the victim's mattress, according to the affidavit.
After police were granted a search warrant for Zidik's medical records on Oct. 10, they discovered multiple admissions that he shot the victim. According to police, the claim varied from Zidik cleaning the gun and it went off to he was loading the gun and it went off.
The firearm and bullet were collected and sent to the lab for further testing. Zidik's computer was also seized to refuse his claim to police that he was on the computer at the time of the shooting.
At this time, Zidik has been charged with attempted criminal homicide and two counts of aggravated assault.
