Homicide and weapons charges filed

Sparta - A 5 year old was home when her father was allegedly shot to death by his younger brother. Daniel Thropp, 43, of 41 Hunters Lane, allegedly murdered his older brother Alan Thropp, 49, on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 190 East Shore Trail. Alan Thropp was treated and pronounced dead at 7:47 a.m. at Newton Memorial Hospital. After Daniel Thropp shot his brother, he walked to the chief of police’s home (a nearby neighbor), laid down his weapon, and confessed his crime, according to the county prosecutor’s office. No motive or indication of provocation has been determined, said first assistant prosecutor William Fitzgibbons. It is alleged that Thropp has a history of mental illness; however, the prosecutors office could not confirm nor deny the allegation. Fitzgibbons said Daniel Thropp is currently being detained at the Sussex County Jail with a $1 million bail that has no 10 percent payment option. He said police officers that were on the scene are currently preparing their report, and stated that this is an ongoing investigation. Others at the scene of the crime included representatives from the N.J. State Crime Scene Unit, Sussex County pros office, and medical examiner’s office. Thropp has been charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful use, and possession of a sawed-off weapon. The medical examiner’s office declared Alan Thropp’s death a homicide, and determined his death occurred from several gun shot wounds to the torso. Dr. Junaid Shaikh performed an autopsy. Fitzgibbons said Thropp would most likely get an attorney or a public defender if needed, try to get his bail reduced, and start his defense strategy. He said he also anticipates that Thropp will go through a series of physical and psychiatric evaluations. Mayor Manny Goldberg said he once had a conversation with Daniel Thropp, who had expressed a desire to donate property to the township. During the conversation about developers in the area, Goldberg said Thropp made what seemed like a “paranoid” complaint. “To me, this is a tragedy,” Goldberg added. “We reach out to the family of the victim. But it is a tragedy.”