UPDATE:
New details in a police-involved shooting in Blair County. State Police are investigating after a man opened fire, killing three people then shooting at officers. During the shoot-out, police killed him.
Flags in Blair County were lowered to half staff as community members try to come to grips with a shooting Friday morning that left four people dead, including the gunman.
State Police say the man opened fire at several locations in Frankstown Township, killing a woman in a church and two men in the driveway of a home.
Investigators say he also shot at a marked police car responding to the shootings and then got into a gunfight with state troopers.
The suspect was killed and one trooper was also shot twice.
"He's in very good shape,” stated Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio, referring to the injured officer. “He fortunately was wearing his vest."
Marie and Charles Brenneman say they lost a cousin and the cousin's son in law in the shooting.
"It's something you think can't happen to you,” stated the victim’s relative, Charles Brenneman. “Just like in CT. It happens on TV, not to people like us."
Charles Brenneman says the two men were just about to go Christmas shopping
when the shooting started.
His wife says they were neighbors of the suspect.
"It was just one of those crazy things,” Marie Brenneman told us. “That the guy came over with a pistol and started shooting."
It's unclear why the gunman shot the two men or why he targeted the church first.
The victim there was killed while decorating for a children's Christmas party.
"We don't know what he was doing in our church,” explained Marlene Helsley, a friend of the victim. “We have no idea what this man was doing at our church. Because he must be deranged, I don't know."
A prayer vigil will be held Saturday night as this tiny community grieves and struggles to understand why this happened.
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Three State Police Troopers are injured and four people, including a homicide suspect are dead in Blair County.
The incident started around 9 a.m. after police received a 911 call for shots fired.
When they arrived, a person in a truck fired shots at the State Police patrol cars as they drove past.
The suspect then drove into a marked car head-on, causing both vehicles to become disabled.
The suspect then got out of his truck and began shooting at the marked patrol car, striking a trooper. Additional troopers returned gunfire, striking and killing the male suspect.
Police then discovered that there were three people found dead at three different locations. It is believed the suspect committed these homicides before the troopers arrived.
State Police are currently investigating four separate crime scenes, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.
None of the troopers suffered life-threatening injuries.
One was struck by two bullets, with one hitting him in the chest, which impacted his bullet-proof vest and the other striking his wrist.
Another officer received facial injuries related to the shattered glass and shrapnel from the gunfire. Both this officer and the other one who was shot at are expected to be released Friday.
A third trooper is being evaluated for injuries sustained during the crash.
New details in a police-involved shooting in Blair County. State Police are investigating after a man opened fire, killing three people then shooting at officers. During the shoot-out, police killed him.
Flags in Blair County were lowered to half staff as community members try to come to grips with a shooting Friday morning that left four people dead, including the gunman.
State Police say the man opened fire at several locations in Frankstown Township, killing a woman in a church and two men in the driveway of a home.
Investigators say he also shot at a marked police car responding to the shootings and then got into a gunfight with state troopers.
The suspect was killed and one trooper was also shot twice.
"He's in very good shape,” stated Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio, referring to the injured officer. “He fortunately was wearing his vest."
Marie and Charles Brenneman say they lost a cousin and the cousin's son in law in the shooting.
"It's something you think can't happen to you,” stated the victim’s relative, Charles Brenneman. “Just like in CT. It happens on TV, not to people like us."
Charles Brenneman says the two men were just about to go Christmas shopping
when the shooting started.
His wife says they were neighbors of the suspect.
"It was just one of those crazy things,” Marie Brenneman told us. “That the guy came over with a pistol and started shooting."
It's unclear why the gunman shot the two men or why he targeted the church first.
The victim there was killed while decorating for a children's Christmas party.
"We don't know what he was doing in our church,” explained Marlene Helsley, a friend of the victim. “We have no idea what this man was doing at our church. Because he must be deranged, I don't know."
A prayer vigil will be held Saturday night as this tiny community grieves and struggles to understand why this happened.
___________________________________________
Three State Police Troopers are injured and four people, including a homicide suspect are dead in Blair County.
The incident started around 9 a.m. after police received a 911 call for shots fired.
When they arrived, a person in a truck fired shots at the State Police patrol cars as they drove past.
The suspect then drove into a marked car head-on, causing both vehicles to become disabled.
The suspect then got out of his truck and began shooting at the marked patrol car, striking a trooper. Additional troopers returned gunfire, striking and killing the male suspect.
Police then discovered that there were three people found dead at three different locations. It is believed the suspect committed these homicides before the troopers arrived.
State Police are currently investigating four separate crime scenes, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.
None of the troopers suffered life-threatening injuries.
One was struck by two bullets, with one hitting him in the chest, which impacted his bullet-proof vest and the other striking his wrist.
Another officer received facial injuries related to the shattered glass and shrapnel from the gunfire. Both this officer and the other one who was shot at are expected to be released Friday.
A third trooper is being evaluated for injuries sustained during the crash.