Latest news with #LoriWasko
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.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Pennsylvania shooting: man kills neighbour, ambushes and wounds two state troopers
A 61-year-old man shot and killed his neighbor in rural Pennsylvania on 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 from their home near Thompson, in Susquehanna county, 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. '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. 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', the police spokesperson 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 added. The troopers were flown to hospitals for medical care. Pennsylvania's governor, 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 north of the borough of Thompson, 163 miles 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.
