Pennsylvania trooper’s use of deadly force justified in barricade shooting, DA says

BUT RAIN IS ALSO IN OUR FORECAST. CHRISTINE HAS ALL THE TIMING. WGAL NEWS 8. TODAY STARTS NOW. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 430 ON THIS THURSDAY. GLAD YOU’RE HERE. I’M MATT BARCARO. I’M KATELYN SMITH. SO YEAH, LET’S GET TO THAT FORECAST. FORECAST IS GOING UP TODAY AND THEN GOING DOWN TOMORROW. SO AS IT ALWAYS DOES RIGHT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST. TODAY. WE HAVE TEMPERATURES STARTING OUT VERY MILD. WE’VE HAD SOME CLOUDS OVERNIGHT. I THINK THE CLOUDS ARE GOING TO BE CLEARING SHORTLY. LOOK AT THE NUMBERS HERE. 55 IN CHAMBERSBURG, 49 IN LANCASTER, 52 FOR YORK AND 47 DEGREES IN LEBANON. WE STILL HAVE A NICE BREEZE OUT OF THE SOUTH, AND THAT’S GOING TO HELP TO WARM THINGS UP. TODAY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 10 TO 20MPH SOUTHERLY WINDS BRINGING US TO THE 70S. SO EXPECT A GOOD DOSE OF MORNING SUNSHINE, THEN INCREASING CLOUDS TOWARD EVENING. BREEZY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WARM AND THE RAIN HOLDS OFF UNTIL AFTER DARK. SO WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT WHEN THAT RAIN MOVES IN AND WHEN IT MOVES OUT. COMING UP IN MY FULL FORECAST. THANKS FOR STAYING. FORMER LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SENTENCED FOR USING AI TO CREATE HUNDREDS OF NUDE IMAGES OF THEIR CLASSMATES. SOME OF THE 60 VICTIMS TALKED IN COURT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT THESE PHOTOS HAVE HAD ON THEM. EIGHT ON YOUR SIDE. REPORTER MEREDITH JORGENSEN WAS IN THE COURTROOM YESTERDAY. SHE FIRST BROKE THIS STORY IN AUGUST OF 2024 AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT EVER SINCE. THE BOYS WHO WERE CHARGED WERE 14 AT THE TIME. AFTER THE HEARING YESTERDAY, ONE VICTIM AGREED TO TALK TO NEWS EIGHT IF WE DID NOT SHOW HER FACE, AND SHE SAID SHE’S ANGRY AT WHAT SHE CONSIDERS THE BOY’S LACK OF REMORSE. I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF INSANITY TO HEAR 30 VICTIM STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW YOU’VE DESTROYED, LIKE, 60 GIRLS LIVES OVER THE SPAN OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY FOR YOURSELF. AND I THINK THAT’S VERY DISGRACEFUL OF THEM. THE JUDGE SENTENCED THE BOYS TO SIX MONTHS SUPERVISED PROBATION, A REHAB PROGRAM AND 60 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, ONE HOUR FOR EACH VICTIM. THEY WERE ALSO ORDERED TO NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIMS AND PAY $12,000 IN RESTITUTION FOR COUNSELING COSTS. A VIRGINIA MAN, WHO IS ALSO A SECRET SERVICE OFFICER, WILL NOW STAND TRIAL AFTER STATE POLICE SAY HE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONVERSATIONS WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL FROM LANCASTER COUNTY. 28 YEAR OLD TRISTAN HALE IS CHARGED WITH SENDING A SERIES OF SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE TEXT MESSAGES AND PICTURES TO THAT GIRL BETWEEN OCTOBER AND JANUARY. HIS CASE AGAIN WILL GO TO COUNTY COURT NOW AFTER HE WAIVED HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING EARLIER THIS MONTH, POLICE IN LITITZ, LANCASTER COUNTY, FILED ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST A 14 YEAR OLD BOY AFTER THEY SAY HE PUSHED ANOTHER STUDENT AND HIT THAT STUDENT IN THE HEAD AT WARWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL. POLICE SAY THE TEEN PUSHED THE VICTIM INTO A CONCRETE WALL TWICE. POLICE SAY THE TEEN ALSO PUNCHED THE VICTIM IN THE FACE. AND THEN, AS THAT VICTIM WAS WALKING TO THE SCHOOL NURSE, POLICE SAY THEY SAW ON SCHOOL SECURITY VIDEO THE TEEN HIT THAT VICTIM THREE MORE TIMES IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THE VICTIM GOT A CONCUSSION THIS MORNING IN LANCASTER COUNTY. WE NOW KNOW WHAT EMTS SAY LED TO ONE OF THEIR OWN BEING ATTACKED. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LANCASTER EMS TELLS NEWS EIGHT THAT A PATIENT BECAME COMBATIVE IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE, AND THE PARAMEDIC AND EMT TEAM HAD TO CALL POLICE. HE SAYS THIS HAPPENED ON ROUTE 222 AND LOCUST LANE IN WEST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP ON TUESDAY NIGHT. THE EMT WAS NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. A DAUPHIN COUNTY MAN PLED GUILTY TO STEALING MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC, ACCORDING TO U.S. ATTORNEY DAVID METCALF. OUR. FROM HUMMELSTOWN USED STOLEN IDENTITIES TO FILE MORE THAN 500 FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS FOR PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE. HE SAYS THAT ARIANA DAVISON, FROM HARRISBURG, ALSO PLED GUILTY TO CHARGES IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR. BOTH ARE AWAITING SENTENCING. WE ARE HEARING FROM THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY RESIDENT AND A BUSINESS ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE STATE’S MINIMUM WAGE, SO THE STATE HOUSE PASSED THIS BILL THAT WOULD GRADUALLY RAISE IT FROM 7.25 TO $15 AN HOUR BY 2029. IT DOES STILL HAVE TO PASS THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE, WHICH A REMINDER IT HAS FAILED TO DO THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE PEOPLE WE TALKED TO, THOUGH, THINK IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN PENNSYLVANIA. I STARTED WORKING WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AT MCDONALD’S IN MY LOCAL AREA, AND IT WAS 725 THEN TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS LATER, IT’S STILL THE SAME SAME PRICE. I THINK THAT’S OUTRAGEOUS. TO KEEP A GOOD EMPLOYEE, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE. THEY CAN PAY THEIR BILLS, COME TO WORK, GET THEIR KIDS TO DAYCARE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT’S WORTH IT TO PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES MORE. OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY THAT IT COULD FORCE BUSINESSES TO RAISE PRICES, AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR MINIMUM WAGE IS SMALL. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW RISING GAS PRICES SINCE THE START OF THE WAR IN IRAN. NEWS EIGHT SPOKE WITH A FOOD TRUCK OWNER IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP TO SEE HOW GAS PRICES ARE AFFECTING THEM. THE OWNER SAYS THAT HIS TRUCK IS HIS PRIDE AND JOY, BUT FILLING UP ON GAS IS EXPENSIVE. I WAS PAYING $2.67 PER GALLON AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, LITERALLY YESTERDAY, I PAID ALMOST. NOW $1.80 MORE PER GALLON. I MEAN, WITH AVERAGING ONLY ABOUT 7.5 MILES PER GALLON WITH THIS THING WITH LIKE EVERYTHING WEIGHED DOWN IN HERE, IT, IT REALLY ADDS UP QUICK WITH HOW EXPENSIVE GAS IS GONE. SO IF YOU DO ALL AUDIT THAT UP, HE SAYS THAT HE’S SPENDING MORE THAN $500 A MONTH ON GAS NOW. HE SAYS HE HOPES THAT PRICES GO DOWN SOON, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON. AND LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT GAS PRICES AROUND THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THE STATE AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR DID STAY THE SAME AGAIN OVERNIGHT. AVERAGE PRICES, THOUGH, ACTUALLY DROPPED A PENNY IN MIFFLIN COUNTY AND IN LANCASTER COUNTY AND PERRY COUNTY BY $0.02. LANCASTER COUNTY WAS DOWN ONE CENTS, PERRY COUNTY DOWN TO THE AVERAGE GALLON IS UP A PENNY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, THOUGH, ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL THE LOWEST IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY NOW AT 3.78 TODAY IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS WILL RECOGNIZE SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY. THE SCHOOL IS THE FIRST STATE OWNED UNIVERSITY TO BECOME WHAT’S CALLED AN OVERDOSE PREVENTION PARTNER PROGRAM HELPS GET PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG NALOXONE, ALSO CALLED NARCAN. ADMINISTRATION SAYS SINCE 2023, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 15,000 OVERDOSE REVERSALS USING STATE PROVIDED NALOXONE. LANCASTER CITY MAYOR JAIME ARROYO HAS APPOINTED THE NEXT CHIEF OF STAFF. AMANDA PAQUETTE HAS BEEN APPROVED TO FILL THAT POSITION. THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK. SHE SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2020. AS FOR HER NOW VACANT COUNCIL SEAT, MEMBERS SAY THEY WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TO REORGANIZE AND HELP FILL THAT POSITION TODAY. CENTRAL DAUPHIN HIGH SCHOOL WILL HOLD A CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE IN HONOR OF THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. THE TEAM WON A STATE TITLE THIS PAST WEEKEND AT GIANT CENTER IN HERSHEY. THE PARADE STARTS AT 115. ALSO TODAY, IT’S OPENING DAY FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CHANGES COMING TO CAMDEN YARD, CAMDEN PARK IN BALTIMORE. WE’LL SHOW YOU THE UPGRADES. AND IT’S 437. LET’S GIVE YOU A LOOK AT LAST NIGHT’S WINNING LOTTERY NUMBERS. GOOD MORNING. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE’VE HAD SOME UPS AND DOWNS IN THE FORECAST. OUR HIGH YESTERDAY WAS IN THE 50S, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING WARMER TEMPERATURES TODAY. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR TOP TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S. AND THAT’S GOING TO BE OUR WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK. YOU CAN SEE A COLD FRONT WAITING IN THE WINGS BACK TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES, AND A WARM FRONT LIFTING UP INTO THE NORTHEAST, BRINGING SOME SHOWERS THAT WAY, BUT A WARM SOUTHERLY FLOW TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE KEY TO GET US QUITE WARM. HERE’S OUR STORM TEAM LIVE RADAR NETWORK. LOCALLY IT IS ALL DRY. OUR CURRENT TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 40S AND 50S. CONSIDERING OUR AVERAGE LOW FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR SHOULD BE IN THE 30S. THIS IS CERTAINLY ABOVE AVERAGE AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. LOOK AT OUR WIND SPEEDS TODAY. STARTING OUT LIGHT GETTING BREEZY AGAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. WE COULD SEE WIND SPEEDS 10 TO 20MPH SUSTAINED. AND THAT’S REALLY GOING TO WARM THINGS UP ALL THE WAY INTO THE 70S. MID 70S ARE LIKELY FOR US WITH RAIN COMING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING. NOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A TEMPERATURE DROP. OF COURSE TOMORROW WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND THE WEEKEND COMING UP. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE BASEBALL WEATHER TODAY AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL OPENING DAY IS TODAY. AND THE CREWS AT CAMDEN YARDS IN BALTIMORE, THEY’VE BEEN GETTING THE FIELD READY. THE BALLPARK HAS HAD SOME UPGRADES. AND NEWS EIGHT SPORTS DIRECTOR BETHANY MILLER IS SHOWING US. BASEBALL FANS WE OFFICIALLY MADE IT. OPENING DAY IS UPON US AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS AROUND THE LEAGUE BEGIN THEIR SEASONS TODAY DOWN IN BALTIMORE, A LOT OF CHANGES WITH ORIOLES FRANCHISE IN 2026. A NEW MANAGER, CRAIG ALBERNAZ, AND NOW A NEW AND IMPROVED CAMDEN YARDS EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES A BRAND NEW VIDEO BOARD, RIBBON BOARDS AND SOUND SYSTEM. 900 SPEAKERS WILL IMMEDIATELY GREET FANS AS THEY ENTER THE BALLPARK. FANS CAN GET THEIR FIRST GLIMPSE AT IT LATER TODAY, AS TREVOR ROGERS TAKES THE BUMP FOR A305 START AGAINST THE TWINS. AS FOR THE BUCS, THE PIRATES BEGINNING THE SEASON ON THE ROAD, FACING OFF AGAINST THE METS, THE REIGNING NL CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER PAUL SKENES WILL GET THE STARTING NOD AFTER A 7191 SEASON IN 2025. SKENE SAID PITTSBURGH’S GOALS COMING INTO THIS YEAR ARE A LOT HIGHER. WE WANT TO WIN THE DIVISION. WE WANT TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. THAT’S IT. HOW WE DO THAT, WHO KNOWS WHETHER WE WIN? YOU KNOW? I DON’T I DON’T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A NUMBER OF GAMES OUT THERE BECAUSE THAT’S JUST PUTTING A CEILING ON US. WE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND PLAY WELL EVERY DAY. SKENES AND THE BUCKS HOPING FOR A TURNAROUND YEAR, STARTING OFF WITH THE METS AT 115 AS THE PHILLIES GEAR UP TO HOST THE RANGERS, ZACK WHEELER IS COMING OFF HIS FINAL LIVE BATTING PRACTICE. THIS WAS OUT IN CLEARWATER ON TUESDAY. WHEELER BEGINNING THE SEASON ON THE 15 DAY INJURED LIST, WILL MAKE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL START THIS SATURDAY WITH TRIPLE-A LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS. DON’T MISS LIVE COVERAGE OF OPENING DAY. YOU CAN JOIN JACOB HALL OUT AT CITIZENS BANK PARK AND MYSELF AT CAMDEN YARDS LATER TODAY. OUR LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS AT NOON. WE’RE BRINGING FANS ALL THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON. BACK TO YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MONTHS AFTER THE U.S. CAPTURED THE NOW FORMER VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, HE IS RETURNING TO COURT. WHEN THAT HEARING IS SCHEDULED. TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE IN BALTIMORE, WHERE THE REBUILDING OF THAT BRIDGE STANDS THIS MORNING. IT’S 443 ON OUR THURSDAY MORNING. LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK OVER OUR LANCASTER SKY CAM CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRISTINE FERREIRA IS BACK WITH THE WARMER TEMPS THAT ARE ON TAP FORU.S. CENTRAL FORCES CONTINUE TO DAMAGE IRAN’S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPABILITIES. THIS AS THE U.S. SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY ARE UNDERWAY. SOMETHING THOUGH IRAN IS DENYING MORE THAN 1000 U.S. TROOPS ARE HEADING TO THE MIDDLE EAST. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TOUTED THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT IRAN RESPONDED, SAYING IT WILL ONLY AGREE ON ITS TERMS AND TIMELINE. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ADDRESSED THE BACK AND FORTH. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THESE TALKS ARE ONGOING. WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN AT THIS TIME. IRAN HAS ADMITTED THAT IT IS GETTING SOME MESSAGES FROM THE U.S., BUT SAYS IT DOES NOT CONSIDER THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. FORMER VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, CELIA FLORES, SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN A NEW YORK COURTROOM THIS MORNING. IT’S A STATUS HEARING ON THEIR CASE. MADURO AND FLORES, CAPTURED BY U.S. FORCES IN VENEZUELA EARLIER THIS YEAR. THEY’RE PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO VARIOUS CHARGES, INCLUDING CORRUPTION, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING. TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THAT DEADLY BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN BALTIMORE. SIX MAINTENANCE WORKERS DIED WHEN THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSED AFTER A CARGO SHIP HIT. IT SAW VIDEO THERE OF THE MOMENT THAT THAT WAS HAPPENING, THE CHIEF ENGINEER WORKING TO REBUILD THAT BRIDGE SAYS THAT SOME EARLY CONSTRUCTION WORK IS DONE, INCLUDING THE DEMOLITION OF THE LAND PIERS FROM THE OLD BRIDGE. CREWS SAY DESIGN FOR THE NEW BRIDGE IS ALMOST DONE AS WELL, AND A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE AREA SAYS THAT SHE STILL REMEMBERS THE MORNING THAT BRIDGE COLLAPSED. IT WAS JUST PART OF THE LANDSCAPE AND IT WAS GONE AND IT WAS JUST A SINKING FEELING, SORT OF LIKE FINDING OUT THAT A REALLY GOOD FRIEND HAD PASSED. THAT BUSINESS OWNER WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM, HAS SOLD ART FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND SHE SAYS AT A POINT AFTER THAT COLLAPSE, HER SALES DROPPED AS MUCH AS 40%. IT HAS BEEN 54 DAYS SINCE NANCY GUTHRIE WENT MISSING FROM HER HOME IN ARIZONA. AND THIS MORNING ON THE TODAY SHOW, YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF SAVANNAH’S INTERVIEW WITH HODA KOTB. THAT’S HER FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE HER MOTHER WENT MISSING. WE ARE IN AGONY. IT IS UNBEARABLE. AND TO THINK OF WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH, I WAKE UP EVERY NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT. AND IN THE DARKNESS. I IMAGINE HER TERROR. YOU CAN SEE THAT INTERVIEW ON THE TODAY SHOW RIGHT AFTER NEWS EIGHT TODAY AT 7:00 THIS MORNING, TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF AN 18 YEAR OLD SOLDIER AT LEONARD KINNEY ARMY DEPO DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE, HIS COMMUNITY IS NOW SUPPORTING HIM. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT CHRISTOPHER LOPEZ. SO THREE BUSINESSES, MAMA’S PIZZERIA, FRUTA DEL SOL, AND ALSO JACKED UP FOOD TRUCK IN BIGLERVILLE, ADAMS COUNTY, WHERE THE SERGEANT IS FROM, DID GIVE A PORTION OF THEIR SALES FROM YESTERDAY TO THE LOPEZ FAMILY. WHEN TRAGIC THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THE LOSS OF THIS SOLDIER BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND NOT JUST GOOD TIMES, BUT IN BAD TIMES, I THINK IS WHAT COMMUNITY AND FAMILY IS ALL ABOUT. A VIEWING AND FUNERAL FOR SPECIALIST LOPEZ WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AT BIGLERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, A BILL FOCUSING ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY PASSED IN THE STATE HOUSE. IT WOULD CHANGE THE STATE’S DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE FROM A CONTRACT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN TO A CONTRACT BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS. NOW, SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGAL IN PENNSYLVANIA BECAUSE OF A STATE LEGAL RULING AND FEDERAL LAW. BUT SUPPORTERS WANT STATE LAW TO REFLECT THAT, TOO. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE IS ACTUALLY FOR THE STABILITY OF CHILDREN, WHETHER IT’S HISTORY OR WHETHER IT’S CONSISTENT WITH BELIEFS. EVERYBODY, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY LOVE, CAN MARRY THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY LOVE. AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING HAVE NEVER HAD TO SIT WAITING, REFRESHING THE HOME PAGE TO SEE IF A COURT HAS GIVEN YOU ACCESS TO A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATE SENATE. IT’S NOT CLEAR IF IT WILL TAKE UP THAT PROPOSAL AND VOTE ON IT. SOME STATE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT TIGHTENING REGULATIONS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS LIKE AIRBNBS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDSEY POWELL, A DEMOCRAT FROM ALLEGHENY COUNTY, SAYS THAT A SHOOTING AT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IN PITTSBURGH IS WHAT LED HER TO INTRODUCE THIS BILL, ADDING SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE’RE HOPING THAT WE SET A STANDARD SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMONWEALTH, YOU’RE GOING TO BE ABLE AS A PATRON TO EXPECT THE SAME SAFETY AND REGULATION THAT IT’S A CLEAN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU CAN BE IN, POWELL SAYS THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD INCLUDE PROOF OF LIABILITY INSURANCE, SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS, NOISE MONITORING DEVICES AND ALSO CAMERAS RECORDING BUILDING ENTRANCES, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO YOU CAN CONTACT IF YOU DO RUN INTO ISSUES AT THE PROPERTY. A PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER SAYS HE’LL SOON INTRODUCE A BILL THAT WOULD SUSPEND TAXES ON SOCCER EQUIPMENT FOR SIX MONTHS THIS YEAR, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ZACH MAKO, FROM LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES, SAYS THAT TAXES ON SOCCER BALLS, CLEATS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT WOULD BE SUSPENDED UNDER HIS BILL. THAT WOULD HAPPEN FROM JULY 1ST THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR. SO WHY? WELL, BECAUSE PENNSYLVANIA IS HOSTING WORLD CUP GAMES IN PHILADELPHIA THIS SUMMER AT LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD. AND TODAY, GOVERNOR SHAPIRO WILL ANNOUNCE THREE WORLD CUP FAN ZONES ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE WORLD CUP. THE FAN ZONES WILL BE A FREE PLACE FOR FANS TO GO AND WATCH THE GAMES TOGETHER. THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IS AT 1030 THIS MORNING IN READING. SWITCHING GEARS TO OUR FORECAST NOW, AND WE HAVE THE WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK ON TAP FOR US. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT ALL WEEK LONG. GET OUTSIDE THIS AFTERNOON. DO SOMETHING. CHRISTINE. ALSO SOME RAIN THOUGH. YOU GOT IT. BUT THE RAIN IS GOING TO HOLD OFF UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING. TONIGHT, AND MOST OF YOUR DAY IS GOING TO BE DRY TODAY. SO RAIN DOES RETURN TONIGHT. COULD HEAR SOME RUMBLES OF THUNDER TOTALS UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH. RAIN WILL TAPER EARLY TOMORROW MORNING AND WE COULD SEE A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON. BUT OVERALL IT WILL BE BREEZY AND COOLER. NOWHERE NEAR THE 70S FOR OUR HIGHS. TOMORROW IT WILL BE A DRY WEEKEND. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT COOL AND BREEZY ON SATURDAY AND SEASONABLE ON SUNDAY, WITH HIGHS BACK IN THE 50S. NEWS EIGHT STORM TEAM FORECAST. TODAY WE HAVE PARTLY SUNNY CONDITIONS INCREASING CLOUDS, WARM AND BREEZY. LOOK AT THOSE HIGHS WELL INTO THE 70S ACROSS THE ENTIRE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TONIGHT. RAIN DEVELOPING SOME THUNDER THROWN IN THE MIX. MILD AND BREEZY. WE STAY IN THE 50S AND TOMORROW OUR HIGH WILL BE EARLY IN THE DAY. ACTUALLY AT MIDNIGHT, PROBABLY UP NEAR 60 DEGREES. BUT THEN TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY FALL FROM THE 50S IN THE MORNING DOWN INTO THE 40S BY AFTERNOON. SO SHOWERS TAPER TOMORROW. IT’S COOLER. IT’S BREEZY. INSTEAD OF A SOUTHERLY WIND DIRECTION, THE WIND WILL BE OUT OF THE NORTHWEST. HERE’S A LOOK BACK AT YESTERDAY. WE MADE IT UP TO 57 DEGREES. AVERAGE IS 55 FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND AVERAGE LOW IS 35. SO WE ARE WELL ABOVE THAT. LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS THIS MORNING. IT’S 52 IN NEW YORK, 49 IN LANCASTER. A MILD START IN LEBANON AT 47. EVEN 55 DEGREES IN CHAMBERSBURG, WITH A BREEZE FROM THE SOUTH. SO THAT SOUTHERLY WIND WILL COME IN TODAY, HELP TO WARM THINGS UP TO OUR WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK. STORM TEAM LIVE RADAR NETWORK RIGHT NOW, COLD FRONT IS STILL WAY UP IN THE NORTHWEST NORTHWEST OF US IN THE GREAT LAKES, SO WE SHOULDN’T BE SEEING

Pennsylvania trooper’s use of deadly force justified in barricade shooting, DA says

WGAL logo

Updated: 6:05 AM EDT Mar 26, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was justified in using deadly force during a barricade situation in January, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.Police were called to the 2800 block of Rockdale Road in North Whitehall Township on Jan. 25 after a 26-year-old man barricaded himself inside a Toyota Camry in his family’s driveway, according to a recent release from District Attorney Gavin Holihan. Police said the man was armed with a loaded semiautomatic handgun and was acting in an “erratic manner” and threatened to harm himself. When troopers arrived, the man was seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, according to the release. Investigators said he fired two shots in an unknown direction and was seen pointing the gun at himself and at troopers multiple times. Troopers contacted the man by phone and repeatedly ordered him to surrender, but he refused to comply, according to the district attorney. The man’s parents told police he appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis and had been paranoid and unable to sleep for several days, police said. SERT team responds As the situation continued, the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was called to the scene. An unidentified trooper assigned to the response observed the man’s behavior shift from laughter to a somber demeanor, according to Holihan. At one point, investigators said, the man made a gesture the trooper interpreted as “come and get me.” Authorities said the man removed the magazine from his handgun to check how many rounds remained, then reinserted it. He also moved the vehicle in and out of drive, according to the release. Deadly shot fired at barricaded manImmediately before the shooting, investigators said the man raised the pistol with a two-handed grip and pointed it directly at troopers. Holihan said the trooper then fired a single round, striking the man in the head. Police removed the man from the vehicle, secured the weapon and began life-saving measures before he was taken to a hospital, according to the release. The man later died from a gunshot wound to the head. The coroner ruled the death a homicide. Use of deadly force justified, DA saysThe shooting was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop M and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Task Force. Holihan said investigators reviewed reports, transcripts, body-camera footage, dashboard video, drone recordings and autopsy photographs. Based on that evidence, Holihan concluded the trooper’s use of deadly force was justified, saying the man posed an imminent threat to himself and others and refused repeated opportunities to surrender. No criminal charges will be filed, the district attorney said. Authorities did not release the names of the man or the trooper involved. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.

NORTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was justified in using deadly force during a barricade situation in January, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.

Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.

Police were called to the 2800 block of Rockdale Road in North Whitehall Township on Jan. 25 after a 26-year-old man barricaded himself inside a Toyota Camry in his family’s driveway, according to a recent release from District Attorney Gavin Holihan.

Police said the man was armed with a loaded semiautomatic handgun and was acting in an “erratic manner” and threatened to harm himself.

When troopers arrived, the man was seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, according to the release. Investigators said he fired two shots in an unknown direction and was seen pointing the gun at himself and at troopers multiple times.

Troopers contacted the man by phone and repeatedly ordered him to surrender, but he refused to comply, according to the district attorney.

The man’s parents told police he appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis and had been paranoid and unable to sleep for several days, police said.

SERT team responds

As the situation continued, the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was called to the scene.

An unidentified trooper assigned to the response observed the man’s behavior shift from laughter to a somber demeanor, according to Holihan. At one point, investigators said, the man made a gesture the trooper interpreted as “come and get me.”

Authorities said the man removed the magazine from his handgun to check how many rounds remained, then reinserted it. He also moved the vehicle in and out of drive, according to the release.

Deadly shot fired at barricaded man

Immediately before the shooting, investigators said the man raised the pistol with a two-handed grip and pointed it directly at troopers.

Holihan said the trooper then fired a single round, striking the man in the head.

Police removed the man from the vehicle, secured the weapon and began life-saving measures before he was taken to a hospital, according to the release.

The man later died from a gunshot wound to the head. The coroner ruled the death a homicide.

Use of deadly force justified, DA says

The shooting was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop M and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Task Force.

Holihan said investigators reviewed reports, transcripts, body-camera footage, dashboard video, drone recordings and autopsy photographs.

Based on that evidence, Holihan concluded the trooper’s use of deadly force was justified, saying the man posed an imminent threat to himself and others and refused repeated opportunities to surrender.

No criminal charges will be filed, the district attorney said.

Authorities did not release the names of the man or the trooper involved.

See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.