Hotel owner was handling gun that killed waitress

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON, NY - Western Hotel owner Joseph Naughton was handling the .25 caliber hand gun that shot Lori A. Schubeler, a waitress at the hotel. It is not clear whether the shooting was an accident.

The incident occurred on Sunday, April 13 at 12:30 a.m. in the hotel bar. Schubeler was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Sullivan County Grand Jury will consider the evidence from the incident presented to them on or about April 30. No charges have been filed against Naughton. “The jury will have to determine whether or not the shooting was a result of either reckless conduct, criminal negligence or was accidental,” said Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen.

“The autopsy revealed that Ms. Schubeler died as a result of a single gun shot wound to her left chest with the bullet entering her aorta and lung,” Lungen said.

The gun, a .25 semi-automatic handgun, is being examined by the New York State Police laboratory in Albany.

Another man was present at the incident but authorities have not released his name. It was not clear when the results of the grand jury’s investigation will be announced.

Schubeler, 41, was a well-known member of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop in South Fallsburg and a successful actress. She had a speaking role in Neil Simon’s film “Lost in Yonkers” and had appeared in many plays produced by the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop including “The Bad Seed” and “Oliver!” in which she played Nancy, one of the principal roles.

The Western Hotel, located prominently on Upper Main Street in the hamlet of Callicoon, is known as a restaurant of fine dining with a wide reputation for excellent food and preparation. The hotel also contains Harmonie Hall, a small burlesque theater where many popular plays and musical have historically been presented. Naughton is considered one of the hamlet’s successful entrepreneurs and community leaders.

He served a term as a Town of Delaware council member from 1996 to 1999.