New York State Police have arrested a 44-year-old South Blooming Grove man following a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a woman inside an Orange County home. Authorities say the case is being investigated as a homicide after evidence revealed the victim suffered both a gunshot wound and signs of physical assault during a domestic dispute.
According to state police, troopers from State Police Monroe responded to a residence on Heights Trail in the Village of South Blooming Grove at approximately 4:41 p.m. on December 23, 2025. Officers were called to the scene after receiving a report of an unconscious female with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, troopers found an adult woman suffering from a gunshot injury and apparent trauma inside the home.
Emergency responders immediately began life-saving measures before transporting the victim by ambulance to Garnet Health Medical Center. Despite efforts by medical staff, the woman was pronounced dead at the hospital. She was later identified as Tanzanica Dickerson, 45, officials confirmed. Her death has left loved ones and the community grappling with another tragic case of domestic violence.
Multiple units from the New York State Police responded to assist with the investigation, including the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Forensic Investigation Unit, and the Major Crimes Unit. A preliminary investigation determined that Dickerson lived at the residence with Joseph M. Pennyfeather III, 44. Police said the two were involved in a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation prior to the shooting.
An autopsy conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Dickerson died from a gunshot wound and also suffered blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, further supporting investigators’ findings. Authorities have not released additional details about the weapon involved or the sequence of events leading up to the fatal shooting.
Pennyfeather was taken into custody at the scene and later arraigned in the City of Middletown Court. He has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. A judge ordered him held without bail, and he was remanded to the Orange County Jail. Pennyfeather is scheduled to appear next in the Town of Blooming Grove Court on December 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities say more information will be released as it becomes available.
