(The Center Square) – The Pennsylvania State Police have provided updates on the shooting of two of its troopers in Susquehanna County on Thursday.
The officers, Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins III, of the Gibson Patrol Unit, were shot while responding to a call. They were flown to area hospitals and are both in stable condition.
Col. Christopher Paris, head of the Pennsylvania State Police, said troopers responded to a call that shots had been fired at 11:17 Thursday morning at an address along State Route 171 in Thompson Township.
The call was made by the boyfriend of the shooter’s first victim, Lori Wasko, 57, who had been shot and killed in front of their home by a neighbor, Carmine Faino, 61.
“She was a member of our community. She was a worthwhile individual,” said District Attorney Marion O’Malley of Wasko. “She’s someone who gave back to the community, and her loss will be felt by many people.”
When troopers responded to the scene of her murder, they were ambushed with several dozen rounds of rifle fire from a position of “tactical superiority.” Perechinsky was shot twice in the torso. Jenkins was shot once in each arm, injuries Perechinsky was able to tourniquet despite his own severe wounds.
Carl Lawson, an EMT responding to the call was shot at in his vehicle, which veered off the road to evade fire. He was also hospitalized and is in stable condition.
Additional troopers were able to evacuate the wounded before the police created a perimeter around Faino. The state’s Special Emergency Response Team, or SERT then took over.
Faino shot down a drone, attempted to create an incendiary device, and refused to cooperate with police while wielding a semiautomatic weapon. He was ultimately shot and killed.
O’Malley said she would be investigating the incident including the use of force resulting in Faino’s death.
“This is a fluid situation,” said O’Malley. “All of the information has not been ascertained at this point, and it won’t be until then that I can truly turn my hands to the report and take a look at what has happened and whether the use of force in this particular case was appropriate.”
Paris thanked law enforcement from Susquehanna, Lackawanna, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties, and New York State Police all of whom provided assistance in the incident.
O’Malley referred to the wounded officers, with whom she has worked in her capacity as a prosecutor, as “Bill and Joe.” Perechinsky is from a family of law enforcement officers. Jenkins is a married father of four.
“I know both of the troopers personally,” said Paris. “They represent the best of who and what the Pennsylvania State Police are.”
