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Two Pennsylvania state police soldiers are stable after being killed Thursday morning in Susquehanna County, officials announced.
Pennsylvania’s state soldier Rob Urban confirmed to CBS News that the suspect died and that the two soldiers were transported by plane in local hospitals.
The soldiers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins were each shot twice and transported by plane in hospitals but are in stable state, according to state police.
Pennsylvania’s state police commissioner, colonel Christopher Paris, refers to this incident as an “ambush”.
The shooter, whom the police identified as Carmine Faino, 61, killed Lori Wasko, 57, before his home before the police responded to the scene. He lived at a nearby address on the state of the State 171 which is several hundred meters, said the police.
The suspect was armed with a rifle and “refused to comply with orders,” the state police said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. The suspect was killed by the police, and there is no threat to the public, according to the police.
The police said that the shooting had taken place on the road in State 171 in the canton of Thompson, in the county of Susquehanna, about 40 miles north of Scranon.
How the shooting took place
Paris described the incident at a press conference Thursday evening.
The Gibson barracks’ state police received a call about a shooting on the state road 171 at 11:17 am, Perechinsky and Jenkins went to the scene, where they immediately took an ambush with “several rifle shoots of a tactical superiority position”, said Paris.
Wasko had already been shot dead, said Paris. Her boyfriend, who lived with her there, called the police, said Paris.
Perechinsky, who has been a soldier for six years, was shot dead twice in the chest and chest, said Paris. Jenkins, father of four children who has been a soldier for 10 years, was shot down once in each arm, according to Paris. Perechinsky was able to garnish the two weapons of Jenkins with help.
Two additional soldiers responded and evacuated Perechinsky and Jenkins. Perechinsky was taken to the Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, and Jenkins was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley, said Paris.
Jay Larson, an EMT who responded to the scene, was also injured. After the suspect shot the EMT’s SUV, the EMT left the road and was injured in the accident that followed, but was able to hide in the event of shots. Larson is in a stable state, said Paris.
At this point, the police set up a perimeter around the suspect. They tried to use a drone, which the shooter killed, said Paris.
The Office of Emergency Operations and Special Operations, which includes the PSP special emergency intervention team, has taken over.
Police tried to negotiate with Faino, said Paris. He “continued to be a threat” and was shot by members of the special emergency intervention team, said Paris. Faino drew tens of laps at the incident, said Paris.
Paris said that he had met with wounded soldiers and their families and that they were in a good mood.
“Very lucky to be alive”
“Soldier Perechinsky saved lives today,” said Shapiro. “He probably almost saved the life of his partner and the life of the members of the community who were in the region. He acted decisively, he acted in a thoughtful manner and the work he has done today illustrates the best of the Pennsylvania State police, the best law application of the law throughout the nation.”
Shapiro said Perechinsky and Jenkins were the fifth and sixth soldiers to have been killed since his mandate as governor in January 2023.
“It never becomes easier,” he said.
“They are very lucky to be alive,” said Paris. Perechinsky put a tourniquet on Jenkins, and even if their two patrol cars were “riddled with bullets,” said Paris, a third soldier was able to enter and evacuate the injured officers. The investigation is underway, he added.
Data analyzed By the CBS News Crime, emissions, at least 50 law enforcement agents have been killed so far this year – on the right track to exceed the total of 2024 of 80. The FBI is studying the trend and interviews both victims and suspects.
In a declaration on social networks, Shapiro said he had met the injured soldiers and called them “the best absolute of the Pennsylvania state police”.
“This morning, they went in danger to ensure the safety of our neighbors – and they saved lives by doing so. We owe them a huge gratitude debt,” said his position in part.
New York State police and the application of the local law of four Pennsylvania counties provided support on Thursday, said Paris.
Senator Dave McCormick said in an article on social networks that he was monitoring the developing situation. He also expressed his empathy for soldiers who were slaughtered.
“Dina and I pray for our brave state soldiers in the county of Susquehanna and closely monitor the situation as more and more details are emerging,” said McCormick.
American representative Rob Bresnahan said that he was “relieved to hear the soldiers involved in today’s incident in the canton of Thompson should be in a stable state”.
In an article on X, the Pennsylvania general prosecutor, Dave, said that he was “relieved to hear that these soldiers are in a stable and grateful state for fast assistance and medical staff”.
