Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers are stable after they were shot Thursday morning in Susquehanna County, officials said.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Rob Urban confirmed to CBS News that the suspect died and both troopers were flown to local hospitals.
Troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins were each shot twice and airlifted to hospitals but are in stable condition, according to state police.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris is referring to this incident as an “ambush.”
The shooter, who police identified as 61-year-old Carmine Faino, shot and killed 57-year-old Lori Wasko outside her home before police responded to the scene. He lived at a nearby address on State Route 171 that is several hundred yards away, police said.
The suspect was armed with a rifle and “refused to comply with commands,” state police said in a statement Thursday afternoon. The suspect was shot and killed by police, and there is no threat to the public, according to police.
Police said the shooting occurred on State Route 171 in Thompson Township, Susquehanna County, which is about 40 miles north of Scranton.
How the shooting unfolded
Paris described the incident during a press conference Thursday night.
State police at the Gibson barracks received a call about a shooting on State Route 171 at 11:17 a.m. Perechinsky and Jenkins went to the scene, where they were immediately ambushed with “several rounds of rifle fire from a position of tactical superiority,” Paris said.
Wasko had already been shot and killed at the scene, Paris said. Her boyfriend, who lived with her at that location, called police, Paris said.
Perechinsky, who has been a trooper for six years, was shot twice in the chest and torso area, Paris said. Jenkins, a father of four who has been a trooper for 10 years, was shot once in each arm, according to Paris. Perechinsky was able to tourniquet both of Jenkins’ arms with some assistance.
Two additional troopers responded and evacuated Perechinsky and Jenkins. Perechinsky was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, and Jenkins was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Paris said.
Jay Larson, an EMT who was responding to the scene, was also injured. After the suspect shot at the EMT’s SUV, the EMT veered off the road and was injured in the ensuing crash, but was able to hide in case of more gunfire. Larson is in stable condition, Paris said.
At this point, police were setting up a perimeter around the suspect. They attempted to use a drone, which the shooter shot down, Paris said.
The Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, which includes PSP Special Emergency Response Team, took over.
Police attempted to negotiate with Faino, Paris said. He “continued to be a threat” and was shot and killed by members of the Special Emergency Response Team, Paris said. Faino fired several dozen rounds during the incident, Paris said.
Paris said he has met with both injured troopers and their families and they are in good spirits.
“Very lucky to be alive”
“Trooper Perechinsky saved lives today,” Shapiro said. “He quite likely almost saved the life of his partner and the life of community members who were in the area. He acted decisively, he acted thoughtfully, and the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police, the best law enforcement agency in the entire nation.”
Shapiro said Perechinsky and Jenkins were the fifth and sixth state troopers to be shot since his tenure as governor began in January 2023.
“It never gets easier,” he said.
“They are very lucky to be alive,” Paris said. Perechinsky put a tourniquet on Jenkins, and even though both of their patrol cars were “riddled with bullets,” Paris said, a third trooper was able to get in and evacuate the injured officers. The investigation is ongoing, he added.
Data analyzed by the CBS News Crime Unit shows at least 50 law enforcement officers have been shot in ambush attacks so far this year — on track to exceed the 2024 total of 80. The FBI is studying the trend and interviewing both victims and suspects.
In a statement on social media, Shapiro said he met with the wounded troopers and called them “the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police.”
“This morning, they went towards danger to keep our neighbors safe — and they saved lives by doing so. We owe them an immense debt of gratitude,” his post said in part.
New York State Police and local law enforcement from four Pennsylvania counties provided support on Thursday, Paris said.
Sen. Dave McCormick said in a social media post that he was monitoring the developing situation. He also expressed empathy for the troopers who were shot.
“Dina and I are praying for our brave state troopers in Susquehanna County and monitoring the situation closely as more details emerge,” McCormick posted.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said on X that he was “relieved to hear the troopers involved in today’s incident in Thompson Township are expected to be in stable condition.”
In a post on X, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said he is “relieved to hear these troopers are in stable condition and grateful for the quick acting officers and medical personnel.”
