Latest news with #CarmineFaino
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
Wounded Pennsylvania troopers recovering after chaotic shooting that left gunman, neighbor dead
A man fatally shot his neighbor in rural Pennsylvania and then unleashed a hail of gunfire on first responders, wounding two state troopers, running an EMT off the road and sniping a police drone from the sky, officials said. The chaotic scene unfolded Thursday morning after Thompson resident Lori Wasko's boyfriend called police to report gunfire. Police arrived to find the 57-year-old woman dead and her 61-year-old neighbor, Carmine Faino, lying in wait to ambush them.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Shooter kills neighbour, wounds 2 troopers and is shot to death in rural Pennsylvania ambush
Police officers block the street leading to where two Pennsylvania state troopers were ambushed and shot Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, near the village of Thompson in Susquehanna County, Pa. (AP Photo/Aimee Dilger) A 61-year-old man shot and killed his neighbour in rural Pennsylvania Thursday and then ambushed responding state troopers, wounding two and shooting down a drone while firing dozens of rounds from a semiautomatic weapon, police said. The attacker was killed by police. The boyfriend of the woman who was killed, Lori Wasko, called 911 after 11 a.m. from their home near Thompson to report that shots had been fired, state police Col. Christopher Paris told reporters. Police did not say why Carmine Faino decided to kill 57-year-old Wasko outside her home and then fire at responding troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins. Faino also fired at police vehicles and at an SUV operated by a responding emergency worker, Paris said. The EMT was injured when his vehicle veered off the roadway and was being treated, Paris said. 'I don't want to speak to his motive leading up to this. I would say you can draw certain conclusions from the standpoint that we believe Faino shot our victim prior to our arrival and then from a position of tactical advantage fired dozens and dozens of rounds,' Paris said. Investigators are looking into Faino's past, Paris said. Both troopers were in stable condition with serious injuries Thursday night, he said. Paris said the troopers 'were dispatched to check the welfare of an individual. And there was additional information about shots being fired. But upon their arrival, they were immediately fired upon and ambushed. They are very lucky to be alive.' Perechinsky applied a tourniquet to Jenkins, and two other troopers were able to help rescue them, Paris said. He praised Perechinsky for providing first aid to his colleague after they were shot and for working while wounded to prevent further injuries or death. 'Perechinsky was able to commandeer a tractor-trailer that was driving by, and he ordered the driver of that tractor-trailer to pull his semi rig across the roadway so that more people would not drive down that roadway and potentially be subjected to the fire,' Paris said. Perechinsky was 'still thinking at that point in time, after being shot twice in the chest, what can I do to secure this location? What can I do to make sure nobody else gets hurt?' Paris said. The troopers were flown to hospitals for medical care. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the two troopers heroes and said Perechinsky 'saved lives.' 'He acted decisively. He acted thoughtfully. And the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police,' Shapiro said. Faino had a rifle and did not comply with demands, a state police statement said. He was 'ultimately shot and killed during the incident,' police said. The shooting happened about 5 miles (8 kilometres) north of the borough of Thompson, some 163 miles (262 kilometres) north of Philadelphia. Erika Mills, who lives less than a mile from where the shootings took place, said it made for a terrifying day in a community that is usefully peaceful. 'This is a very very quiet town. There has never been anything comparable,' she said. By Mark Scolforo And Marc Levy.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Wounded Pennsylvania troopers recovering after chaotic shooting that left gunman, neighbor dead
A man fatally shot his neighbor in rural Pennsylvania and then unleashed a hail of gunfire on first responders, wounding two state troopers, running an EMT off the road and sniping a police drone from the sky, officials said. The chaotic scene unfolded Thursday morning after Thompson resident Lori Wasko's boyfriend called police to report gunfire. Police arrived to find the 57-year-old woman dead and her 61-year-old neighbor, Carmine Faino, lying in wait to ambush them. One of the wounded troopers commandeered a tractor trailer to block the roadway and prevent other motorists from driving into harm's way as police say Faino continued to shoot, targeting a police drone as he holed up near a propane tank that officials feared could be used as a bomb. He also fired at an SUV driven by an emergency worker before being shot and killed by police. The Susquehanna County coroner's office said an autopsy was conducted Friday morning on Faino, but the results were not immediately available. Police have not said what led to the shootings. 'I don't want to speak to his motive leading up to this. I would say you can draw certain conclusions from the standpoint that we believe Faino shot our victim prior to our arrival and then from a position of tactical advantage fired dozens and dozens of rounds,' state police Col. Christopher Paris said. He said Trooper Joseph Perechinsky applied a tourniquet to his injured colleague, Trooper William Jenkins, and, despite his own injuries, ordered the driver of a tractor trailer to block the road. Perechinsky was 'still thinking at that point in time, after being shot twice in the chest, what can I do to secure this location? What can I do to make sure nobody else gets hurt?' Paris said. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the two troopers heroes and said Perechinsky 'saved lives.' 'He acted decisively. He acted thoughtfully. And the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police,' Shapiro said. A spokesperson for Geisinger, a hospital network where the two wounded troopers are being treated, said in an email that, as of late Friday morning, Jenkins was listed in good condition and Perechinsky in fair condition. Both had been wearing ballistic vests and are 'lucky to be alive,' Paris said. The shooting happened in Thompson Township, some 163 miles (262 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. The township has long been without its own police force and, like much of Susquehanna County, relies on the state police for emergency response, which is free to local taxpayers. About one-quarter of Pennsylvanians — largely in rural areas — receive some sort of police coverage from the state police. Erika Mills, who lives near the site of the shooting, said the lack of a local police department has left the area less safe and more vulnerable to crime. She also said it made the response to the shootings more difficult. 'They know they have a large window of time before state police could be on scene,' she said. ___ Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Whittle reported from Scarborough, Maine. Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Mark Levy in Harrisburg contributed.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Wounded Pennsylvania troopers recovering after chaotic shooting that left gunman, neighbor dead
A man fatally shot his neighbor in rural Pennsylvania and then unleashed a hail of gunfire on first responders, wounding two state troopers, running an EMT off the road and sniping a police drone from the sky, officials said. The chaotic scene unfolded Thursday morning after Thompson resident Lori Wasko's boyfriend called police to report gunfire. Police arrived to find the 57-year-old woman dead and her 61-year-old neighbor, Carmine Faino, lying in wait to ambush them. One of the wounded troopers commandeered a tractor trailer to block the roadway and prevent other motorists from driving into harm's way as police say Faino continued to shoot, targeting a police drone as he holed up near a propane tank that officials feared could be used as a bomb. He also fired at an SUV driven by an emergency worker before being shot and killed by police. The Susquehanna County coroner's office said an autopsy was conducted Friday morning on Faino, but the results were not immediately available. Police have not said what led to the shootings. 'I don't want to speak to his motive leading up to this. I would say you can draw certain conclusions from the standpoint that we believe Faino shot our victim prior to our arrival and then from a position of tactical advantage fired dozens and dozens of rounds,' state police Col. Christopher Paris said. He said Trooper Joseph Perechinsky applied a tourniquet to his injured colleague, Trooper William Jenkins, and, despite his own injuries, ordered the driver of a tractor trailer to block the road. Perechinsky was 'still thinking at that point in time, after being shot twice in the chest, what can I do to secure this location? What can I do to make sure nobody else gets hurt?' Paris said. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the two troopers heroes and said Perechinsky 'saved lives.' 'He acted decisively. He acted thoughtfully. And the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police,' Shapiro said. A spokesperson for Geisinger, a hospital network where the two wounded troopers are being treated, said in an email that, as of late Friday morning, Jenkins was listed in good condition and Perechinsky in fair condition. Both had been wearing ballistic vests and are 'lucky to be alive,' Paris said. The shooting happened in Thompson Township, some 163 miles (262 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. The township has long been without its own police force and, like much of Susquehanna County, relies on the state police for emergency response, which is free to local taxpayers. About one-quarter of Pennsylvanians — largely in rural areas — receive some sort of police coverage from the state police. Erika Mills, who lives near the site of the shooting, said the lack of a local police department has left the area less safe and more vulnerable to crime. She also said it made the response to the shootings more difficult. 'They know they have a large window of time before state police could be on scene,' she said. ___ Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Whittle reported from Scarborough, Maine. Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Mark Levy in Harrisburg contributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Shot twice, state trooper uses tourniquets and a semi-truck to protect others in rural Pennsylvania ambush
When state troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins were tasked Thursday morning with checking on a call of shots fired at a home in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, they had no idea about the danger they were driving toward. By the end of the day, both would be in a hospital recovering from gunshot wounds and praised as heroes while investigators recounted the details of an ambush and standoff that included the commandeering of a semi-truck, the shooting down of a drone and the fear of a propane tank being turned into a bomb. When the troopers arrived at the scene on State Route 171 in Thompson Township, they were immediately attacked by a gunman with several rounds of rifle fire from a good distance, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said, declining to say exactly how far away the gunman was when he opened fire. Both troopers were wounded. 'He was using a semi-automatic long gun from which he fired several dozen rounds through this incident.' Prior to the troopers' arrival, the suspect, Carmine Faino, 61, used a semiautomatic rifle to shoot and kill his neighbor, Laurie Wasko, 57, outside her home, Paris said. Wasko's longtime boyfriend who lived with her in the home – which sits across the two-lane road but several hundred yards away from Faino's – reported the shooting around 11:17 a.m., prompting the troopers' response, officials said. Perechinsky was shot twice, in the chest and torso area. Jenkins was also shot twice – once in each arm. 'Their cars, where they had arrived and gotten out of, were also riddled with gunfire,' Paris said. 'It's been a tragic and harrowing day for the community here in Susquehanna County and the Pennsylvania State Police,' Paris told reporters Thursday. As additional troopers and emergency responders rushed to the scene, Perechinsky managed to place a tourniquet on his fellow trooper's arms. One of the responders, an EMT in a quick response SUV, was shot at as he arrived, Paris said. 'He took evasive action and veered off the side of the roadway and crashed. … He was able to make it out of his vehicle and he actually hid for fear that (Faino) would continue firing upon him,' Paris said, noting the EMT was injured and in stable condition. Once Perechinsky and Jenkins had been pulled away from the gunfire by other troopers, a severely injured Perechinsky managed to commandeer a passing semi-truck, ordering the driver to pull the rig across the roadway, blocking others from the danger, Paris said. While working to establish a perimeter, law enforcement deployed a drone, which Faino 'shot down actively with a firearm,' Paris said. At one point during negotiations with law enforcement, Faino sat on a propane tank, which raised fears he had attempted to turn it into an improvised explosive device. 'We were concerned about other weapons, not only the weapon that he was using,' Paris said. 'After a period of attempting to negotiate with him, he continued to be a threat and he was shot by members of the Special Emergency Response Team,' the colonel said. 'He is deceased.' A motive for the incident wasn't immediately shared by law enforcement. Mike Cottrell, a resident of nearby Jackson Township, told CNN affiliate WNEP the police response was unprecedented in the rural area. 'I've never seen that many … An armored vehicle went by, and I've never seen that either, and I mean it's just nonstop cops and ambulances going by,' Cottrell said. 'They are very lucky to be alive' The troopers' response, particularly the actions of Perechinsky who continued to protect others despite being seriously wounded, has drawn praise from state officials, but the shooting resulting in the death of the armed suspect has prompted a formal investigation by the district attorney's office on police use of force. 'We're very lucky today with the two troopers,' Paris said as both were in stable condition Thursday night. 'They are very lucky to be alive.' Paris also said he knew the troopers 'personally' and described them as 'the best of who and what the state police are.' Perechinsky was 'still thinking at that point in time, after being shot twice in the chest, 'What can I do to secure this location? What can I do to make sure nobody else gets hurt?'' Paris added. Perechinsky has been a trooper for six years and comes from a law enforcement family, with his father and brother both serving in Pennsylvania police departments, Paris said. Jenkins has been on the force for 10 years and is a father of four. The district attorney's office is conducting a use of force investigation, and the troopers who shot at Faino have been put on leave pending results, which is typical for the situation, Paris said. Susquehanna County District Attorney Marion O'Malley said her office will be involved in the probe. 'My primary function here, given the fact that Mr. Faino is now deceased, will be to participate in the investigation and make the determination about the use of force in this case.' Gov. Josh Shapiro, after visiting Perechinsky and Jenkins in the hospital, said both 'represent 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,' Shapiro said in a statement. CNN's Danny Freeman and Taylor Romine contributed to this report.
