Pa. State Trooper in Good Condition After Vine Street Shootout

Captain James P. Raykovitz, commanding officer of Philadelphia’s Troop K of the Pennsylvania State Police, speaks with reporters outside Hahnemann University Hospital. (Photo: Dan McQuade)

A traffic stop on the Schuylkill Expressway Tuesday led to a wild shootout on I-676 that left a state trooper wounded by gunfire, a school bus charred to bits, and the alleged shooter in custody.

Patrick R. Casey, the wounded trooper, is in good condition after being shot in the left shoulder. Captain James P. Raykovitz, commanding officer of Philadelphia’s Troop K barracks, said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference that the 31-year-old trooper from Bucks County is with his parents and will remain in the hospital overnight. He could be home by Thanksgiving. The bullet remains lodged in his shoulder; no surgery is currently scheduled. (See videos and pictures from the scene.)

The incident that preceded the shooting was a traffic stop on I-76 Westbound near the University Avenue exit at about 9:30 this morning. Two Pennsylvania state troopers, William Evans and Timothy Jeter, stopped a car with four occupants for an expired registration. The troopers took one man into custody for a reason they have not yet released.

While troopers were attempting to identify the other three passengers of the car, one of the men got back into the car and drove off, heading westbound. Casey, who Evans and Jeter had called for backup, sped off in pursuit of the suspect. The suspect drove onto I-676 eastbound, where — while both cars were in motion — began firing at Casey. He then crashed into the rear of a school bus, which burst into flames. The bus did not have any schoolchildren in it at the time.

The suspect then jumped out of his car and continued to fire at Casey. Casey returned fire, then ducked behind his vehicle for cover and realized he had been hit. He was driven to Hahnemann University Hospital by trooper Evans, while trooper Jeter remained in pursuit of the fleeing suspect.

Jeter eventually caught the suspect with the help of two County Detectives from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, DA Seth Williams said.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Pennsylvania State Police Trooper shot on Interstate 676 in the line of duty today,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a release. “I received an update from Acting Commissioner Blocker a short time ago and I am relieved to learn that the Trooper is in stable condition at a hospital in Philadelphia. Our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line each day to protect us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. The shooter was swiftly taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police. No further details are available at this time.” Raykovitz said Wolf called Casey at the hospital and the two spoke for several minutes.

Pennsylvania State Police did not release the name of the alleged shooter, nor the other man detained during the original traffic stop. Raykovitz said the other two men from the car — who had been sitting on a Jersey barrier on I-76 during the traffic stop — got away during the chase. They remain at large. Police have identified one and are attempting to identify the other; no names or descriptions of the two people still at large have been released. State police recovered a gun from the scene but Raykovitz said he could not comment on the make or caliber; he added it was damaged in the crash and fire.

“This morning we are reminded of the sacrifice police officers are ready to make every time they put on their uniform,” Joseph Kovel, president of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, said in a statement. “Our wounded brother is a hero, and we’re relieved to learn he will recover from his injuries.”

Neither the alleged shooter nor the driver of the charred bus were hurt; only Casey suffered any injuries from the incident.