Crime
Pottstown Standoff Ends with Officer Injured, Suspect Andrew Ecker Fatally Shot
POTTSTOWN, Pa. — A standoff in Pottstown on Sunday night ended in the fatal shooting of a suspect and the injury of a police officer, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident began around 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2025, when Pottstown Police responded to a vehicle crash near the intersection of Beech and North Mount Vernon streets.
Authorities say the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Andrew Jackson Ecker, attempted to reach for a .22 caliber firearm at the scene of the crash before fleeing on foot to his residence on Winding Road.
Officers pursued Ecker to his home, where he allegedly opened fire on police, striking one officer in the shoulder.
The injured officer was transported to a hospital in Reading and is reported to be in stable condition.
Following the initial gunfire, Ecker barricaded himself inside the residence, prompting a significant law enforcement response that included SWAT West and officers from multiple jurisdictions.
Negotiators were able to make contact with Ecker with assistance from a family member, but despite extended efforts, he refused to surrender.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., the situation escalated, and Ecker was fatally shot during the standoff.
The specific circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force have not yet been detailed.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident, including the officer-involved shooting.
Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses.
Authorities have not indicated any ongoing threat to the public.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”