UPDATE: One Trooper Killed In Shooting At State Police Barracks

WNEP ^ | 9/13/14 | Amanda Kelley

[Tamzee]

BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP — One Pennsylvania State Police trooper is dead and another is injured following a shooting at a barracks in Pike County.

State police have confirmed there was a shooting late Friday night at the Blooming Grove barracks.

Authorities confirm on trooper is dead and another was wounded.

Their names have not been released.

It happened along Route 402 in Blooming Grove Township.

Investigators said it happened Friday night as the two troopers were changing shifts. They were shot outside the barracks by a shooter or shooters.

Troopers say no one is in custody and a massive manhunt is under way, with police from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey involved in the search.

snip

[Labyrinthos]

Go to Bing Maps, and search for Islamberg. Then switch to birds eye view for satellite overview. You can zoom in and get a pretty good idea of the terrain

[conservative98]

1 minute ago...

Corbett tours state police barracks, makes brief statement at church

September 15, 2014

Gov. Tom Corbett toured the Blooming Grove state police barracks this afternoon where the fatal shooting of a state trooper happened Friday night, and then he went to the Blooming Grove Baptist Church and made a brief statement.

Corbett said out of respect to the families involved he has kept his distance and urged people to "pray" for the families and all involved in the situation.

State police said that a news conference updating the situation will be held later today, probably sometime after 4 p.m.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140915/NEWS/140919832

[conservative98]

The Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Blooming Grove is in one of the most wooded areas of rural Pike County, with acres of hunt club grounds, dense state forests and miles of hiking trails.

The shooter remains at large. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers have increased reward money to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Here's a map of the scene of the shooting:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140915/NEWS/140919855/-1/NEWS

[ExSoldier]

Thanks, there is a good link further down this thread. The terrain seems fairly dense and rolling. Not a lot of elevation for a good hide-site. I saw the school bus although the zoom didn't allow for a close up examination looking for the holes. It'd be pretty easy to do a recon of that site depending on whether or not they have any FLIR type equipment or if any of them have any real skills in the woods.

[fatima]

No new news.Didn’t see the press conference but Fox said no new news.

[fatima]

TY.

[conservative98]

Press conference just aired on the local news here and it went like this: I will not comment, I will not speculate, I cannot go into detail.....

[VermiciousKnid]

They’ve got the shooting site marked incorrectly on that map. The barracks is really a bit further north — North of Route 84, and North of Blooming Grove Road.

At night, that road (402) is really, really dark. The bad guys could have been anywhere.

Conservative, I’ve been reading that there appears to have been TWO shooting sites: One at the barracks itself, and then again while they were setting up a landing site for the helicopters at the 402/84 intersection. Have you been hearing the same thing?

[Labyrinthos]

The area is quite mountainous and rugged with several 4000 ft. peaks and steep valleys. Many of the locals live off the land and are cautious of outsiders. Although there are a few people from the NYC area who own weekend homes near Hancock and Islamberg, the drive is little too far for a regular Friday to Sunday visits. The big industries a are hunting, fishing, lumber, and the NYC reservoir system. A person could definitely disappear up there.

[conservative98]

I hard that, too. The barracks was the primary shooting location and then there was another shooting location about a half hour later. I go hiking in this area, but I’m going to hold off for awhile.

[conservative98]

Investigators: Shooter used a .308 caliber rifle; may live in Pike County

Published: September 15, 2014

BLOOMING GROVE TWP. - The shooter who ambushed two state troopers Friday night in Pike County used .308-caliber rifle and might be a Pike County resident or lives within driving distance of the barracks on Route 402, a top state police official said today.

He also might have been part of an incident investigated by troopers at Blooming Grove, where on Friday night, Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, 38, was killed and Trooper Alex T. Douglass, 31, of Olyphant, was seriously wounded, said Lt. Col. George Bivens, deputy commander of operations for the state police.

During a news conference in Pike County on Monday, Lt. Col. Bivens called the attacker “a coward” who committed a “heinous” and “horrendous” act. He may have had “an ongoing issue with law enforcement or government” he said.

He wouldn't say where the shots came from, how many shots were fired or how many times the troopers were hit, explaining that would be information only the "coward" would know. A dense forest stretching for miles is across the street from the barracks.

The reward for information has increased to $75,000.

Lt. Col. Bivens also declined to say if Cpl. Dickson or Trooper Douglass were specifically targeted, but said their attacker might have boasted on social media.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/investigators-shooter-used-a-308-caliber-rifle-may-live-in-pike-county-1.1753356

[wrench]

There was an article on this fellow yesterday. He was recently discharged from the force due to domestic issue or something similar. The investigators ruled him out as per the article.

[VermiciousKnid]

Thanks, Conservative.

I’m not sure why this story has gotten under my skin. I live in NY (Long Island), and hear about bad things happening in places I know well all the time.

But I know THIS area well, too — been going there my whole life, with quite a bit of family up there.

I guess I’m just not used to hearing about such violence up in NEPA. I’ve always felt extremely safe in that area.

Hope they catch the bad guys soon.

Regards,

[wrench]

“Conservative, I’ve been reading that there appears to have been TWO shooting sites: One at the barracks itself, and then again while they were setting up a landing site for the helicopters at the 402/84 intersection. Have you been hearing the same thing?”

I read the same at several sources. Shooting was over a 45+ minute period of time. One news crew was at their station and heard the scanner, they had time to drive 20 miles to the location and shooting could still be heard.

[VermiciousKnid]

Thanks, wrench. This confirms what I’ve been hearing as well. Didn’t know about the news crew, though.

Regards,

[P.O.E.]

Thanks for the update.

[conservative98]

Characterization of shooter

During the press conference, Bivens described the kind of person or people police believe are responsible for the crime as having an ongoing issue with law enforcement or the government. This attack could be directly related to an incident that was investigated by the state police at Blooming Grove, Bivens said, but he did not further describe that investigation.

The shooter or shooters may have been vocal in their complaints about the investigation and may have voiced their complaints in social media or in person.

Police are looking for someone who is an avid hunter or may have formal firearms training with a rifle. That training may have been received in the military or in law enforcement, Bivens said.

This person may practice at a shooting range that is near or within driving distance from his or her home. “Clearly, they practiced with this rifle to maintain proficiency,” Bivens said.

The shooter may be familiar with Pike County, either living in the county or within driving distance. He or she may have made several trips to the Blooming Grove barracks before the shooting.

“This individual may have suffered some level of crisis in his or her life and may be unstable. This may be a catalyst for committing this crime,” Bivens said.

Police are asking the community to stay alert and notify the tip line of anyone they feel may have any knowledge of these crimes. The tip line number is 1-866-326-7256.

The reward for information leading to an arrest has been raised to $75,000.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140915/NEWS/140919825

[wrench]

I saw on the NBC site that authorities are saying a 308 caliber rifle was used. Either they are saying a 30 caliber or a 308 Winchester. The latter means they found shell casings, the former is from examining the bullets.

Another report mentioned the shots were from about 200 ft, not exactly long range for a rifle.

[ExSoldier]

....the NYC reservoir system.

What a FAT freaking terrorist target!

[conservative98]

Pennsylvania state police have identified a suspect in the Friday night shooting ambush that killed one state trooper and injured another outside a barracks in Pike County, according to multiple media reports.

A law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that an arrest warrant would be issued soon. Philadelphia TV station WPVI is also reporting that officials say they know the suspect's identity, and that a Jeep found in a swampy area near the shooting may be connected.

Meanwhile, state police obtained a search warrant in Monroe County overnight in connection with the ambush.

Magisterial District Judge Michael Muth, whose district encompasses East Stroudsburg, confirmed he issued the warrant, but declined to release a copy or provide specifics of what or where police planned to search.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pa-state-trooper-ambush-warrant-20140916-story.html