HONEY BROOK, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Pennsylvania state trooper was shot and killed by a driver during a traffic stop in Chester County Sunday night, authorities said.
Investigators said Cpl. Timothy O’Connor was responding to a report of an erratic driver near Compass and Walnut roads in Honey Brook around 8:15 p.m.
Within minutes, police said he located the erratic driver and, about 10 minutes later, radioed in that he was making a traffic stop of the vehicle. State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said that was the last they heard from O’Connor.
“Unfortunately, he did not respond to radio calls to check on him,” said Bivens. “A patrol responded immediately to check on his well-being and found a very bad situation.”
The patrol discovered O’Connor had been shot. The driver of the vehicle that he pulled over was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
O’Connor was rushed to Paoli Hospital, where he died from his injuries. He was 40 years old.
According to investigators, O’Connor had approached the driver’s side window of the car during the traffic stop, and the driver immediately opened fire. Then, with O’Connor down, the driver got out, walked a short distance from the car, and took his own life with a semi-automatic pistol.
The gunman has been identified as 32-year-old Jesse Nathan Elks, of Honey Brook. Authorities are looking into potential motives.
O’Connor was a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered all flags in the state to fly at half-staff in O’Connor’s honor — "a visible reminder of the hero Corporal O’Connor was," Shapiro said.