At least one Pennsylvania State Trooper is dead, and at least one is injured, after a gunman or gunmen opened fire on a Pennsylvania State Police barracks during shift change late Friday night.
The ambush-style shooting took place at a barracks inside the township of Blooming Grove, about 35 miles from Scranton, reports USA Today . According to State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan, the shooting took place as one trooper was walking in and one was walking out.
The trooper who survived was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Scranton, and is stable condition. As of this post, the names of the troopers have not been released.
The barracks are located in a wooded area surrounded by Pennsylvania State game lands. Almost immediately after the shooting, Pennsylvania State troopers shut down roads in the area, neighboring departments loaned SWAT teams and equipment, and helicopters were seen flying in the area as a manhunt for the shooter or shooters began.
Our thoughts and prayers are with PSP Blooming Grove. Whatever you need brothers, SPD is at your disposal.
— Scranton Police (@ScrantonPolice) September 13, 2014
According to The Blaze , Noonan believes that the State Police were the targets of the barracks shooting.
“We can’t say that the situation is completely in hand. This has been an emotional night for all of us.”
As of 10:58 a.m. Eastern Time, no suspect or suspects had been named in the Pennsylvania police barracks shooting. However, according to ABC News , a “person of interest” was being interviewed. Jeffrey Hudak, 48, is being questioned, but is not charged with a crime, as of this post.
According to WPXI , Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett has released a statement about the police barracks shooting.
“Every attack on an officer of the law is an attack on our state, our country and civilized society. The incident in Blooming Grove shows, once again, that our first responders face constant danger in order that the rest of us may live in peace and safety.”
The Pennsylvania police barracks shooting brings to mind an earlier instance of random violence directed at police. In 2013, according to this Inquisitr report, a disturbed former L.A.P.D. officer, later identified as Christopher Dorner, carried out a series of attacks on police before dying during the search for him.
This is a developing story. More information about the Pennsylvania police barracks shooting will be provided as the story develops.
[Image courtesy of: ABC News ]