CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Pennsylvania state trooper remains hospitalized in serious condition after being wounded in a gunfight with a robbery suspect along I-81 near Chambersburg. Another trooper who was also wounded was treated and released from the hospital. The suspect was shot and killed by police.
Pennsylvania State Police said it was early Wednesday evening when troopers were in pursuit of a gold Chevy van with three suspects inside wanted in connection with retail theft at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Guilford Township, Franklin County.
Spike strips were used to stop the vehicle, It came to rest on a grassy section of an off ramp along I-81. Officials said two women inside the van surrendered, but the driver, identified as 31-year-old Lamar Foy of Baltimore, pulled out a fully loaded .40 caliber handgun.
“Troopers exchanged gunfire with him,” said State Police Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens. “He actually came around one side of one of the patrol vehicles and then started to go around the front and the other side of that vehicle in an effort to chase those troopers down.”
Two troopers were shot several times. Trooper Thomas Pack, 23, was treated and released from the hospital. Trooper Lucas Amarose, 31, remains hospitalized and was upgraded from critical to serious condition.
A third trooper on the scene was not wounded and shot and killed Foy. The district attorney of Franklin County said the use of deadly force by troopers was not just justified as all the law requires, it was absolutely necessary.