A Pa. State Police trooper is dead and another injured in separate but related shootings
The suspect in both shootings has been killed by police, authorities said.
A state police trooper was killed along with the suspect who shot him during a gun battle Saturday afternoon in central Pennsylvania, authorities said.
The suspect had also shot and seriously injured another state trooper earlier Saturday afternoon, state police said.
He was being treated at an area hospital, but the extent of his injuries was not disclosed. In a statement on Twitter Saturday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spent time at the hospital and the trooper was stable but in critical condition.
Of both troopers who were shot Saturday, he said: “Each one put themselves on the line to protect their fellow troopers — and to protect their fellow Pennsylvanians.”
According to police, a man “engaged troopers” in Mifflintown Borough, Juniata County, around 12:45 p.m. and shot one trooper before fleeing.
The shooter was found around 3 p.m. in the residential area of Swamp Road and Baumgardner Drive in Walker Township, Juniata County, where troopers exchanged gunfire with him, state police said.
The shooter and a trooper were both killed in that exchange, police said.
The names of the troopers who were shot and the suspect were not immediately released.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry issued a statement of support to all police in the state late Saturday night:
“Our brave law enforcement officers fight to protect Pennsylvania communities every day. As the Attorney General, know that my office stands with you.”
The shooting comes nearly two weeks to the day after Anthony Allegrini Jr., 18, of Glen Mills, was shot and killed by a state trooper on I-95 in Philadelphia.
Allegrini, a car buff, was killed around 3:30 a.m. June 4 after two troopers responding to reports of illegal street racing near Penn’s Landing approached the Audi he was driving and he failed to yield and struck them, authorities said.
One of the troopers then fired a shot into the car, striking Allegrini, who died at the scene. The troopers suffered minor injuries during the episode, which is under investigation by state police and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.