Armed Man Met Police at Paoli PNC Bank Hours Before Fatal Tredyffrin Shooting; Community Mourns Five Lives
A deeply troubling set of court documents has emerged detailing how Tredyffrin Township police encountered the suspect in last Saturday's fatal shooting at a Paoli bank parking lot some two hours before the killing — raising difficult questions about mental health law and firearm policy in Pennsylvania. Alongside that sobering story, the Paoli area community pauses to remember five individuals whose lives touched neighbors, colleagues, and families across Chester County and beyond.
Police Met Shooting Suspect at Paoli Bank Before Fatal Attack, Court Records Show
Newly released court documents reveal that Tredyffrin Township police officers had a significant encounter with 44-year-old Steve Jahn approximately two hours before he allegedly shot and killed a woman in what authorities have called a random act of violence. Jahn himself called 911 around 8:30 p.m. to report that he believed he was being followed and that he was carrying a loaded firearm, which he was legally permitted to possess. Officers met Jahn in a PNC Bank parking lot in Paoli, where the criminal complaint describes him as presenting with frantic behavior and expressing paranoid beliefs about people pursuing him. Recognizing signs of a mental health crisis, officers encouraged Jahn to voluntarily seek an evaluation — which would have required him to surrender his gun — and he initially agreed, but he changed his mind upon arrival at Paoli Hospital, claiming the cars in the parking lot were the ones chasing him. Jahn was permitted to leave, and roughly two hours later, police say he shot and killed a woman near Contention Lane and Old State Road, just miles from where officers had spoken with him. Legal experts from Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania noted that Pennsylvania law gives officers very limited authority to seize legally owned firearms in situations that have not yet crossed into criminal conduct, making this a deeply difficult judgment call for the officers involved. [1]
🤝 Remembering Dr. Donald J. Rosato, Devon Physician and Devon Horse Show Legend
Dr. Donald J. Rosato, a lifelong resident of Devon and Chester Springs whose family has called the area home for four generations, passed away peacefully at the age of 90. He earned his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, his medical degree from Temple University, and a doctorate in Public Health from Harvard University, and he went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a major and flight surgeon. Returning to Devon in 1967, he took over his father's medical practice on East Conestoga Road and cared for local families until his retirement in 1999 — continuing a legacy of community medicine that his family had established after arriving from Abruzzo, Italy, in 1893. Beyond medicine, Dr. Rosato was a celebrated figure in the equestrian world, particularly at the Devon Horse Show, where he drove a four-in-hand to his Rokeby Coach for four decades and earned numerous blue ribbons; in 2023 he was formally inducted into the Legends of the Devon Horse Show. He also served as Joint Master of the Hunt at Pickering in Kimberton and was deeply involved with charitable, historic, and social organizations throughout Chester County. He is survived by his wife, Judith Miller Rosato, and his three sons. [2]
Elizabeth A. Miller, Formerly of Paoli, Remembered by Family
Elizabeth A. Miller, formerly of Paoli, Pennsylvania, has passed away, according to an obituary published in the Daily Local News. Her notice appears among the Chester County community's remembrances, reflecting the area's close-knit network of families with deep roots in the Main Line region. Services are being handled locally, and the obituary invites those who knew her to pay their respects and share memories with those she leaves behind. The community is encouraged to reach out to the family directly through the Daily Local News obituary listing for further details on arrangements. Her passing adds to a series of losses being mourned across the broader Paoli area this week. [3]
🤝 Joseph 'Jeff' Mackie Jr., Paoli-Area Pharmacist, Toxicologist, and Motivating Speaker, Passes at 74
Joseph F. "Jeff" Mackie Jr., Ph.D., who lived in Paoli with his wife Sandy, passed away surrounded by his family at the age of 74. The son of Scottish immigrants, Jeff built a distinguished career that spanned academic pharmacy, pharmaceutical industry leadership, and professional public speaking — earning a pharmacy degree and doctorate in toxicology from Temple University before joining Smith Kline and French, which later became GlaxoSmithKline, where he rose to Director of Product Training. He served as Chairman of the Board of Certified Medical Representatives from 2004 to 2012 and was a member of the National Speakers Association, eventually becoming an Ambassador for GlaxoSmithKline after retirement and touring the country as a motivating humorist. Jeff was known for his quick wit, his strong support for family and neighbors, and his pride in his Scottish heritage. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Sandy, his two sons Jeffrey and Craig, and four grandchildren. The family has asked that memorial donations be directed to Temple University. [4]
Frances Desilets, Devoted Malvern Parishioner and Beloved Mother, Passes at 87
Frances V. Desilets, known to all as Fran, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 at her Malvern home, where she had lived with her family since 1964 and where she spent her final years. Born in Drexel Hill and raised as the youngest of seven sisters, Fran devoted much of her life to her family and to St. Patrick's Church in Malvern, where she was an active parishioner for more than six decades — organizing parish events, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, running Thanksgiving and All Souls Day breakfasts, and supporting the church's RCIA program for converts. After her children were older, she worked as a bookkeeper and later as a receptionist at a JCPenney salon in King of Prussia, a role she deeply enjoyed until her retirement in 1997. Fran bore the grief of losing her beloved husband Roland in 2010 and, more recently, the sudden death of her eldest son, Roland Jr., in December 2023. She was remembered by her family for her childlike spirit, her infectious energy among younger people, and her love of summers by the pool and at the shore in Sea Isle City. Her obituary is handled through Alleva Funeral Home in Paoli. [5]
Roland Desilets Jr., Malvern-Raised Patent Lawyer and Athlete, Dies Suddenly at 62
Roland B. Desilets Jr., who grew up in Malvern attending St. Patrick's Church and school before going on to a remarkable career in law and technology, passed away suddenly at the age of 62. A graduate of Archbishop John Carroll High School and Ursinus College, where he earned a physics degree, Roland later obtained a master's degree in computer science from Villanova University and then a law degree cum laude from Widener University School of Law, achieving honors in multiple subjects along the way. He built a long career as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at several technology companies including Unisys, QAD, and Vishay Precision Group, handling complex SEC matters and legal compliance. A lifelong runner who had competed in cross country and track since high school, he continued participating in races throughout his life no matter where he was living, and in 2019 he relocated to Florida, eventually settling in St. Augustine where he purchased a waterfront home. He is survived by his siblings and his two sons, Jeffrey and Stephen. His obituary is also handled through Alleva Funeral Home in Paoli. [6]
Barbara Kidder of Chesterbrook, Advocate for Equity and Lover of Travel, Dies at 78
Barbara Jean Kidder of Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 after living for many years with Inclusion Body Myositis, a progressive neuromuscular disease she faced with remarkable resilience and humor. A Temple University graduate in psychology, Barbara worked across a wide range of fields including social welfare, finance, real estate, and education, and was remembered by colleagues as well liked and effective in every role she held. Throughout her life she was a committed advocate for civil rights and social equity, having marched for civil rights in the 1960s and continuing to support organizations working toward a more just society with both her time and her resources. She had a deep love of travel, from childhood family trips to New England and the American West to a camper-van journey through Europe as a young adult and luxury cruises to England with her sister in later years, always documenting the beauty of her surroundings through photography. Barbara was also a devoted rescuer of cats, whom she treated as cherished members of her household, and was known for her ability to make people of all ages feel genuinely seen and cared for. She is survived by her sister Carolyn, and her obituary is in the care of Alleva Funeral Home in Paoli. [7]
Sources: [1] 6abc Philadelphia · [2] Dignity Memorial · [3] Daily Local · [4] Donohue Funeral Home · [5] Dignity Memorial · [6] Dignity Memorial · [7] Dignity Memorial