THE WHITE HOUSE. AND CHRISTOPHER SALAS WGAL. NEWS 8. ALL RIGHT, CHRISTOPHER, THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW, ROAD CLOSURES ARE IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF CHESTER COUNTY AHEAD OF THE VIEWING TONIGHT AND THE FUNERAL TOMORROW FOR THE LATE STATE POLICE CORPORAL TIMOTHY O’CONNOR. HE DIED LAST SUNDAY, SHOT AND KILLED WHILE CONDUCTING A TRAFFIC STOP IN WEST CALN TOWNSHIP. THE GUNMAN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. THAT VIEWING TONIGHT IS AT SAINT JOSEPH’S PARISH ON MANOR AVENUE IN DOWNINGTOWN. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT RUNS UNTIL 830 THIS EVENING. AND THEN TOMORROW’S FUNERAL. THAT WILL BEGIN AT 11 IN THE MORNING. THAT IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. BUT NEWS EIGHT’S SARAH METZ WILL BE THERE, AND WE WILL ALSO BE LIVE STREAMING THE SERVICE ON OUR WEBSITE. AND WGAL APP. GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO HAS ORDERED FLAGS TO B
Funeral service for Pennsylvania State Trooper Corporal Timothy O’Connor Jr.
Updated: 4:19 PM EDT Mar 17, 2026
A Pennsylvania State Trooper killed in the line of duty will be laid to rest Wednesday in Downingtown, Chester County. Corporal Timothy O’Connor Jr., a 40-year-old Pennsylvania State Police trooper and 15-year veteran, was shot and killed the night of March 8 during a traffic stop in West Caln Township, Chester County.Video below: State Trooper shot and killed during traffic stop leaves behind wife, young daughter. Funeral arrangementsThe services will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 338 Manor Ave. in Downingtown, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18.The funeral and the burial service are closed to media and the general public, but it will be livestreamed. WGAL will share that livestream in the video player above.Shooting detailsThe shooting happened after police received a report of an erratic driver in the Honey Brook area around 8:15 p.m. O’Connor located the vehicle and initiated a stop near Route 10 and Michael Road at about 8:26 p.m.Acting PSP Commissioner George L. Bivens said O’Connor radioed that he was stopping the car. That transmission was the last communication from him. When backup officers arrived to check on him, they discovered what Bivens described as “a very bad situation.” Investigators say that as O’Connor approached the driver’s side window, the suspect shot him. After firing, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Jesse Nathan Elks of Honey Brook, got out of the vehicle, walked a short distance, and shot himself.Investigation, state responseAuthorities are continuing to investigate Elks’ background, including anti-police and anti-ICE social media posts. The killing has shaken law enforcement across Pennsylvania and prompted tributes from state leaders and police organizations.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags flown at half-staff and praised officers who “put their lives on the line every day.” A police procession escorted O’Connor’s body from the hospital to the Chester County Government Services Center.Statements from the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police honored O’Connor’s bravery, service, and sacrifice, while urging support and prayers for his family and fellow troopers.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. —
A Pennsylvania State Trooper killed in the line of duty will be laid to rest Wednesday in Downingtown, Chester County.
Corporal Timothy O’Connor Jr., a 40-year-old Pennsylvania State Police trooper and 15-year veteran, was shot and killed the night of March 8 during a traffic stop in West Caln Township, Chester County.
Video below: State Trooper shot and killed during traffic stop leaves behind wife, young daughter.
Funeral arrangementsThe services will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 338 Manor Ave. in Downingtown, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18.The funeral and the burial service are closed to media and the general public, but it will be livestreamed. WGAL will share that livestream in the video player above.
Shooting details
The shooting happened after police received a report of an erratic driver in the Honey Brook area around 8:15 p.m.
O’Connor located the vehicle and initiated a stop near Route 10 and Michael Road at about 8:26 p.m.
Acting PSP Commissioner George L. Bivens said O’Connor radioed that he was stopping the car. That transmission was the last communication from him. When backup officers arrived to check on him, they discovered what Bivens described as “a very bad situation.”
Investigators say that as O’Connor approached the driver’s side window, the suspect shot him.
After firing, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Jesse Nathan Elks of Honey Brook, got out of the vehicle, walked a short distance, and shot himself.
WCAU
Deadly shooting scene in West Caln Township, Chester County.
Investigation, state response
Authorities are continuing to investigate Elks’ background, including anti-police and anti-ICE social media posts.
The killing has shaken law enforcement across Pennsylvania and prompted tributes from state leaders and police organizations.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags flown at half-staff and praised officers who “put their lives on the line every day.”
A police procession escorted O’Connor’s body from the hospital to the Chester County Government Services Center.
Statements from the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police honored O’Connor’s bravery, service, and sacrifice, while urging support and prayers for his family and fellow troopers.