A quiet night of watching television suddenly turned deadly Monday for Susan Stafford and her friend Randy Trepasso.

The couple were watching television at 8:58 p.m. in an upstairs bedroom of Mrs. Stafford's 760 S. Irvine Ave. home in Sharon, when they were shot to death by Mrs. Stafford's ex-husband, William Stafford, 46, of Third Street, Sharon, Police Chief Raymond C. Greene said.

Stafford used a .30-caliber, lever-action rifle to shoot Mrs. Stafford, 40, and Trepasso, 42, also of Sharon, Greene said.

Stafford then shot himself with a .357-caliber Magnum revolver, Greene said.

Apparently Stafford sneaked into the house earlier in the evening when no one was home and hid, Greene said, adding authorities do not know how Stafford got in.

Mrs. Stafford had knee surgery earlier in the day, which is why she was watching television in the bedroom, Greene said.

Her son and daughter and a friend were also home at the time of the shooting, Greene said. Her son heard the shots, went upstairs, saw Stafford with a gun, called 911 and the three young people left the home.

A neighbor said Mrs. Stafford's son is 20 years old and her daughter is 15.

Mercer County Coroner J. Bradley McGonigle said Mrs. Stafford was shot one time; Trepasso, numerous times; and Stafford died of a single shot to the head. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, McGonigle said; no autopsies are planned.

Court records show Stafford filed for divorce in May 2000 and the next month Mrs. Stafford filed for a protection-from-abuse order against her husband. When the PFA was issued, Stafford's firearms were confiscated, the records show.

On March 23, Mrs. Stafford requested the PFA be lifted.

Their divorce was finalized in May.

Greene said authorities do not know if the guns Stafford used were already in the house or if he brought them in.

Theresa Tolonie, 758 S. Irvine Ave., said Mrs. Stafford had lived in the house for a little over a year. She described her as quiet but friendly. Ms. Tolonie said Mrs. Stafford had told her that her ex-husband was jealous.

"He didn't want to leave her," Ms. Tolonie said. She added she was shocked by the incident because Stafford was nice.

Ms. Tolonie said she didn't know Trepasso very well. She said he had been around the house a lot lately but pretty much kept to himself.

Authorities took guns and other evidence from the home. Two dogs were taken by Shenango Valley Animal Control.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com