The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Moeller’s widow against Lowe’s alleges the home improvement chain had nearly a year of warnings that a coworker posed a serious threat to Moeller and did almost nothing about it before that coworker shot and killed him during a June 2025 overnight shift at the Scranton, Pennsylvania store on Viewmont Drive.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
Keisha Moeller filed the suit on December 15, 2025, in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas against Lowe’s Home Centers LLC and store manager Eric Mitchell. The complaint, brought by the law firm Ross Feller Casey LLP, pleads negligence, recklessness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraudulent misrepresentation, and seeks more than $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.1The Times-Tribune. Family of Murdered Lowe’s Employee Sues Company
The theory of the case is straightforward. Lowe’s had notice that Christopher Wasnetsky was dangerous, and it failed to take basic protective steps available to any employer: separating the two men’s shifts, transferring Wasnetsky to another store, or firing him.2HR Grapevine. Lowe’s Faces Lawsuit Over Coworker Shooting Claims The complaint calls Moeller’s death “entirely preventable” and accuses the company of “conscious disregard” for his safety.3PennLive. PA Lowe’s Employee Told Bosses His Coworker Was a Threat The family’s lawyers also cite an email Wasnetsky himself sent to management before the killing, in which he wrote that the company “could have prevented” it. “On that single narrow point, Mr. Wasnetsky was correct,” the filing states.4WVIA News. Lawsuit: Lowe’s Could Have Prevented June Worker Shooting Death at Scranton Store
The Warnings Lowe’s Received
The conflict between the two men surfaced in July 2024, when Moeller reported that Wasnetsky had screamed at him. Management told Moeller the behavior was “unacceptable and would be resolved.”3PennLive. PA Lowe’s Employee Told Bosses His Coworker Was a Threat Over the following months, Wasnetsky filed a series of complaints against Moeller, accusing him of stealing personal items, blocking him with a forklift, hiding equipment keys, and changing computer font sizes to annoy him. Lowe’s investigated and found the complaints had no merit.5Law & Crime. Lowe’s Ignored Warning Signs From Increasingly Hostile Employee Who Fatally Shot Co-Worker
On March 29, 2025, Moeller emailed management directly. He wrote that he had “deep” and “serious safety concerns,” that Wasnetsky “poses a significant risk to himself and others,” and that his own anxiety was “through the roof.”1The Times-Tribune. Family of Murdered Lowe’s Employee Sues Company In April, Wasnetsky told management he was “fed up” with Moeller, and Moeller told a coworker that Wasnetsky had started following him around the store.3PennLive. PA Lowe’s Employee Told Bosses His Coworker Was a Threat
On May 20, 2025, Wasnetsky messaged a manager to say he was “physically shaking with anger,” was losing sleep because of Moeller, and that his mental health was suffering.1The Times-Tribune. Family of Murdered Lowe’s Employee Sues Company The next day, store manager Eric Mitchell told Moeller there was “nothing to worry about” and said Wasnetsky had been instructed to stay out of the lumber department, where Moeller worked.3PennLive. PA Lowe’s Employee Told Bosses His Coworker Was a Threat The lawsuit alleges that instruction was the only concrete step management ever took.
According to police, Wasnetsky later told detectives he bought a handgun the week before the shooting specifically to kill Moeller, and that he practiced firing it in his backyard.5Law & Crime. Lowe’s Ignored Warning Signs From Increasingly Hostile Employee Who Fatally Shot Co-Worker
The Shooting
Just after midnight on June 14, 2025, Moeller was operating a forklift on an overnight shift when Wasnetsky approached him pushing a shopping cart. Surveillance footage showed Wasnetsky opening fire from about five feet away, striking Moeller in the chest and then firing additional shots to the head after Moeller fell. Moeller was pronounced dead at Geisinger Community Medical Center. An autopsy confirmed three gunshot wounds and ruled the death a homicide.6WVIA News. Sister of Man Shot at Viewmont Drive Lowe’s Says He Raised Concerns About Coworker to HR
Wasnetsky called 911 and confessed. “I would like to report a shooting at the Dickson City Lowe’s. I was the person that did it,” he told the dispatcher.7Law & Crime. Lowe’s Employee Murders Co-Worker on Forklift After Emailing HR to Detail Motive He surrendered to officers at the store entrance at 12:36 a.m.6WVIA News. Sister of Man Shot at Viewmont Drive Lowe’s Says He Raised Concerns About Coworker to HR
The Separate Criminal Case
The civil suit against Lowe’s runs alongside a criminal prosecution of Wasnetsky, who is charged with first-degree and third-degree murder and has been held without bail in Lackawanna County Prison since his arrest.6WVIA News. Sister of Man Shot at Viewmont Drive Lowe’s Says He Raised Concerns About Coworker to HR He waived his preliminary hearing in October 2025.8The Times-Tribune. Case Against Man Who Allegedly Killed Lowe’s Co-Worker Heads to Court In February 2026, his attorney Joseph McGraw filed notice of a mental infirmity defense, citing depression, schizoid disorder, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 7. Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher has said he will oppose that defense on the grounds that the killing was premeditated.9WVIA News. Accused Shooter Plans Mental Infirmity Defense in Lackawanna County Lowe’s Store Killing Wasnetsky is not a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit, which targets his employer.
Lowe’s Response
Lowe’s issued a statement saying it is “deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence,” that it “takes all safety concerns seriously,” and that it is cooperating with law enforcement. The company declined to comment further, citing the active litigation.1The Times-Tribune. Family of Murdered Lowe’s Employee Sues Company No trial date has been publicly set in either the civil or criminal case.