A former Penn State student expected to return to University Park in the spring semester was shot and killed by his father, who then turned the gun on himself, last Thursday in Montgomery County, police said.

According to Cheltenham Township Police, Walter P. Henry III -- known by his friends as Philip -- was shot in the head twice with a .38 revolver by his father, Walter P. Henry Jr., in their home.

The reasons for the shooting are not yet clear, but police suspect it was a domestic dispute in the family, officers said.

According to police, Cheltenham Township Police Communications Center received a 911 call from a house on the 1400 block of Ashbourne Road, but the caller hung up before speaking.

Cheltenham Township Police Lt. John Weed said police called the number back and were told by Walter Henry that there was a shooter in the house. Through dialogue with the 911 operator, Walter Henry indicated that he was the one with the gun, police said.

Weed said police responded to the home within minutes and, after repeated calls to the home went unanswered, police SWAT officers entered the home to find the two men dead in a second-story bedroom.

Annemarie Mountz, Penn State spokeswoman, said Philip Henry has not taken classes at Penn State since 2004.

Myckael Goodman, a friend of Philip Henry's from Philadelphia, said Henry was enrolled to take Penn State classes this spring.

Goodman described him as being a "take-charge" kind of guy who enjoyed computers, music and video games.

"He was real outgoing and could get anybody to like him," Goodman said.

Mountz said Philip Henry's death has taken yet another toll on the university.

"It's another tragic example of loss of life," she said. "The university is really saddened anytime that happens."

Katherine Anderson (senior - human development and family studies) said she was shocked to hear about Philip Henry's death after going to high school with him and keeping in touch while at Penn State.

She said he loved computers and was majoring in computer science and information science technology.

Anderson said the two graduated from high school in 2002 and Philip Henry was planning to graduate from Penn State in May.

"I knew that [Philip and his father] argued sometimes," she said. "Who doesn't argue with their parents? You never expect it to turn into something like that."

The funeral service for the two men is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Grace Lutheran Baptist Church, 25 W. Johnson St., in Philadelphia.