A State Police Trooper was killed in the line of duty in a shootout Saturday in Juniata County. A State Police Lieutenant was critically wounded earlier that day in a related shooting in Mifflintown.
The shooter involved in both incidents died in the shootout with police.
According to information released Sunday by Pennsylvania State Police, the slain Trooper has been identified as Jacques. F. Rougeau Jr. Lt. James A. Wagner is listed in critical condition, as of this report going live.
Police say Wagner was shot after being fired upon in Mifflintown.
The shooter has been identified Brandon Stine, 38, of Thompsontown, Juniata County. Stine reportedly showed up at the Lewistown barracks building around 11 a.m. Saturday, armed with a rifle, and began firing shots at patrol vehicles in the parking lot.
A search for him led to his being in Mifflintown, where he engaged Troopers. That’s when Wagner was critically injured after getting shot, at approximately 12:45 p.m.
Wagner is at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, police say.
The continuing search for Stine led police to an area near Swamp Rd. and Baumgardner Drive in Walker Township at around 3 p.m. State Police engaged Stine and during the gunfire, Rougeau Jr. was shot and killed.
Stine died after being shot by police in that final shootout.
“This is a tragedy for the Pennsylvania State Police,” State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris says in a statement released Sunday. “We ask for your continued prayers, for not only our Troopers but also their families.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro offered his thoughts on Twitter Sunday afternoon:
Today, I ordered all Commonwealth flags to fly at half-staff in honor of @PAStatePolice Trooper Jacques F. Rougeau Jr., who was killed in the line of duty yesterday.
Lori and I send our prayers to his family as they grieve their fallen hero.— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) June 18, 2023
Rougeau Jr., 29, enlisted with Pennsylvania State Police in June 2020. He transferred to the Lewistown barracks in March of this year. He is the 104th State Police officer killed in the line of duty.
Wanger, 45, enlisted with State Police in September 2002 and is Commander of the Bedford Station.
