Police: Jeweler likely killed wife, then self

A 65-year-old Bucks County man who owned a Center City jewelry store likely shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

Northampton Township Police Chief Michael Clark said it appeared that Boris Sereda, 65, shot his wife, Ena, 61, in the couple's second-floor bedroom before shooting himself with a handgun.

The Seredas, of Lempa Road, owned B. Sereda Co. jewelers on Seventh Street between Sansom and Walnut Streets, Clark said.

Hy Goldberg, who owns nearby Safian & Rudolph Jewelers and is president of the Jewelers' Row Association, said he was shocked by the news, describing Sereda as a friendly man who waved at passersby from his store window.

"Never saw him with a frown," Goldberg said.

It was not clear when the incident occurred, because there was no 911 call reporting the shots, Clark said. The couple's son-in-law discovered the scene around 3:50 p.m. Sunday after the Seredas failed to show up for a social engagement, Clark said.

The chief did not know how many shots were fired, but said there was no evidence of a struggle. Clark said Boris Sereda may have had an illness, but added that he did not know what it was or whether it played any role in the incident.

A neighbor of the couple said Sunday that Sereda had been sick for some time, and that his condition recently had deteriorated.

Another friend, reached by telephone Monday and asking not to be identified, said he believed Boris Sereda had cancer, though he was not sure what type. The friend said the Seredas "were great people," immigrants from Russia who built a successful life as Boris Sereda sold his handcrafted jewelry downtown.

The friend described Boris Sereda as "a craftsman" and "a great man." The couple had a son and daughter as well as several grandchildren, the friend said.

On Sunday night, a neighbor said the Seredas were friendly with the other members of their block and well-liked in the community. Clark said there had been no complaints about the couple to police.

An autopsy was to be conducted by the Bucks County coroner on Monday, according to Clark.