NORTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Lehigh County District Attorney says a Pennsylvania State Police trooper was justified in shooting and killing an armed man during a January standoff.
According to police, the incident began on January 24 around 11:03 a.m., when the man’s parents called state police for help. They reported their 26‑year‑old son had barricaded himself inside a car in their driveway, was armed with a handgun, and had been acting erratically. His parents said he had been paranoid and not sleeping for the past 3 days.
When troopers arrived and tried to talk to him, they say he fired two shots and repeatedly pointed the gun toward officers. Despite multiple commands to drop the weapon, he refused.
The Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was called to the scene where they established a perimeter and attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man, police said.
Despite repeated efforts to have the man drop the handgun and exit the car, he refused to comply.
Troopers say they saw the man checking the ammunition in his gun and shifting the car in and out of gear. At one point, he quickly pointed the pistol toward troopers positioned directly in front of the vehicle. A SERT member then fired a single shot, striking him in the head.
Troopers say the man was still alive and refused to let go of the gun, which was no longer pointing at the troopers. Investigators later determined that because his finger was inside the trigger guard, it constituted a continuing threat of harm to others.
Troopers removed him from the car, secured the weapon, and began life‑saving measures. He was then transported via ambulance to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. He succumbed to his injury at around 6:50 p.m., according to authorities.
The coroner says an autopsy later revealed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
According to a news release from District Attorney’s Office on March 25, the trooper who fired the fatal shot at the man was justified in his actions.
The DA says that the trooper discharged his firearm once and used no other deadly force.
Investigators reviewed video from PSP drones, dashboard cameras, and body‑worn cameras, along with reports, transcripts, autopsy photos, and Pennsylvania’s laws on police use of force. After reviewing all evidence, Holihan determined the trooper acted within the law and that no criminal charges will be filed.