A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was fatally shot Sunday night in West Caln Township after pulling over an erratic driver, according to officials. Cpl. Timothy O’Connor, a veteran of the force, died at Paoli Hospital.
Trooper Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said O’Connor responded to a call regarding an erratic driver around 8:15 p.m. Approximately 10 minutes later, he initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Compass and Michael roads in Chester County.
As O’Connor approached the vehicle, he was shot by the driver, Bivens said. The driver then died by suicide.
O’Connor enlisted with the Pennsylvania State Police in 2010 and is survived by his wife and young daughter. “We lost a dear member of our family tonight, a hero,” Bivens stated.
The driver has been identified as a 32-year-old man from Chester County, but his name is being withheld at this time, according to Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe.
“Our community is shattered,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “We grieve for the loss of Cpl. O’Connor, and we have the deepest condolences to his family. And unfortunately we just don’t have a lot of answers as to why this happened.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro said he spoke with O’Connor’s family following the shooting. “There are many questions, many of which will go unanswered,” Shapiro said. “But the one thing we absolutely know for certain is that their son, their husband, is a hero. He died protecting others, and that is a noble calling.”
The Pennsylvania State Police and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident.
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