A storm moves through Lebanon City after three policemen were shot Thursday evening by a 34-year-old suspect in Lebanon, PA, Mar 31, 2022.
Mark Pynes / Pennlive.com
1 police officer dead, 2 wounded in central Pennsylvania shooting: officials
The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance.
-
Becky Metrick/PennLive
Mark Pynes / Pennlive.com
A storm moves through Lebanon City after three policemen were shot Thursday evening by a 34-year-old suspect in Lebanon, PA, Mar 31, 2022.
PennLive
Investigators are seen in the vicinity of Thursday night’s shooting in Lebanon.
One Lebanon City police officer was killed and two others were injured in a shooting Thursday that happened as they were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance, city officials said.
The officers were called to the 1100 block of Forest Street in Lebanon at 3:30 p.m., Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said. At 4:24 p.m., shots were exchanged between officers and a suspect, and three officers were hit, Capello said.
One officer died, Capello said. One of the surviving officers was in critical but stable condition Thursday night. The other officer was in stable condition.
Lebanon City Police Chief Todd Breiner said the suspect in the domestic disturbance call was a 34-year-old man who is now dead.
Police provided no other details about the incident.
Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw “cop car after cop car flying down the street.”
“Then we heard something and weren’t sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min,” Gonzalez told the Associated Press in a text message.
Pier Hess Graf, the county district attorney, said in an email late Thursday night that her office will issue a statement Friday on the preliminary findings of its investigation. Once that is complete, a press conference will be set up to discuss the details. “At this time our focus remains on the investigation, and also on respecting the families of all officers affected tonight,” the note concluded.
The family of the officer who was killed was notified, but Capello said that out of respect for members of the extended family and their loss, the officer’s name was not released Thursday night.
“At this time, we are focused on the tragic loss of the officer and the well-being of the other members of our police department,” Capello said. “This is an extremely difficult moment for everyone.”
“Our guys are strong, but we’re human,” Breiner said. “With the help of our families and every other law enforcement officer around this country, we’ll get through it.
Capello said another press conference on the shooting would be held Friday.
The Purple Buck Newsletter
Get insights into WITF’s newsroom and an invitation to join in the pursuit of trustworthy journalism.
