Grand Jury Clears State Troopers in 2024 Knowlton Death

September 30, 2025

KN_Shooting_update_01 — No charges against state troopers are warranted related to the death of an East Stroudsburg man shortly after a homicide in Knowlton. Photo courtesy of New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

A state grand jury on Monday declined to file criminal charges in the death of a Pennsylvania man who died after an encounter with New Jersey State Troopers investigating a nearby shooting death in Knowlton early last year.

The state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, which presented its report to the grand jury, said that at 8:10 p.m., Feb. 12, 2024, Armond Anthony Avitable, 38, of East Stroudsburg, was taken into custody after a struggle with state troopers and then suffered an unspecified medical episode.

A woman was shot to death on Columbia Street shortly before a suspect found nearby who died of a “medical episode,” according to the state Attorney General’s Office. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Troopers performed lifesaving efforts, including use of an automated external defibrillator, until medical personnel arrived, according to the report. Avitable was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in East Stroudsburg, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 8:57 p.m.

Under state law, the OPIA, a division of the state Attorney General’s Office, is required to investigate deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity or while an individual is in custody.

The investigation included 911 calls, radio transmissions, witness interviews, photographs, video footage, medical records, and toxicology and autopsy results, the OPIA said Monday. Evidence, including video of the incident, was presented to the grand jury, which returned a “no bill,” meaning no criminal charges would be filed against the troopers.

Earlier this year, the Attorney General’s Office released body camera footage and other evidence related to the incident.

Cheryl Schilling, 58, of the Columbia section of Knowlton, died after the shooting in her Columbia Street house.

According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Avitable had been involved in a domestic dispute earlier in the day with a woman at his Club House Drive residence in East Stroudsburg. As a result, Avitable was ordered to leave the residence. He then called Kevin Schilling, Cheryl Schilling’s husband, who picked him up in East Stroudsburg and drove him to the Schillings’ Columbia home.

Shortly after arriving at the Columbia Street home about 6 p.m., a dispute developed between the Schillings and Avitable, the prosecutor’s office said. Avitable became agitated and aggressive and retrieved a pump-action shotgun from the downstairs area of the home, according to police reports.

He then fired a shot from downstairs as the Schillings retreated to an upstairs bedroom and closed the door. Avitable followed them upstairs to the bedroom, opened the door, and fired two shots.

Cheryl Schilling was struck in the arm and upper left torso, the prosecutor’s office said.

Avitable fled into the backyard, where he encountered neighbors who were sitting around an outdoor fire.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Avitable told them that he “had to shoot her” because Kevin Schilling “was coming for him.”

Avitable then fired two additional shotgun blasts at the Schillings’ house. He left the weapon on a neighbor’s property and fled the area, authorities said.

Police were contacted, and shortly afterward a Nixle alert was issued, warning residents to shelter in place and to lock all doors and windows. Residents across the river in Portland, Pa., were also told to lock down and roads in the area were blocked.

New Jersey State Police responding to the scene located Avitable a short distance away near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 46.

Medical aid was provided to Cheryl Schilling at the scene; however, she died of her injuries and was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m.

Her death was ruled a homicide by Dr. Di Wang of the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office as a result of a gunshot wound to the torso.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.