Crime
57-year-old Lori Wasko killed in Susquehanna County shooting, suspect Carmine Faino dead
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PA — A deadly and chaotic shooting unfolded late Thursday morning in the borough of Thompson, leaving two Pennsylvania State Troopers injured, an EMT hurt, and two individuals dead, including the gunman.
According to investigators, the suspect—identified as 61-year-old Carmine Faino—fatally shot his next-door neighbor, Lori Wasko, 57, outside her home around 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 7.
Authorities believe the attack was unprovoked. Wasko’s boyfriend immediately contacted emergency services.
Responding to the 911 call, Pennsylvania State Troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins were the first to arrive on the scene.
As they exited their patrol vehicles along Route 171, Faino ambushed them with a rifle, firing multiple rounds.
Trooper Perechinsky was shot twice in the chest, and Trooper Jenkins sustained gunshot wounds to both arms.
Two additional troopers arrived shortly after and were able to reach the wounded officers, facilitating their evacuation.
Both Perechinsky and Jenkins were airlifted to local hospitals and remain in stable condition.
During the standoff, officials observed Faino sitting atop a propane tank, raising serious concerns that he might attempt to use it as an explosive device.
Negotiators attempted to de-escalate the situation; however, when Faino was deemed an imminent threat, he was fatally shot by law enforcement.
An EMT responding to the initial emergency was also caught in the crossfire.
His vehicle was struck by gunfire, causing him to veer off the road and sustain injuries. His condition has not been disclosed.
Governor Josh Shapiro, who confirmed the incident during a scheduled event in Bucks County, later visited Trooper Perechinsky at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.
The governor praised Perechinsky’s actions, stating that his quick and decisive response “saved lives,” including that of his fellow trooper and civilians in the area.
“He acted decisively. He acted thoughtfully. And the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Shapiro said.
Nikki Creps, a close acquaintance of Lori Wasko, told Channel2 NOW that Wasko was a deeply loved member of the community.
Creps expressed outrage, noting that the suspect was known to be a troubled individual and should have been incarcerated weeks earlier in connection with a prior home invasion.
Dave E. Carr Jr., who was present during the shooting, recounted a harrowing moment when a bullet narrowly missed his head as he watched troopers come under fire. Patrol vehicles were visibly damaged by gunfire, but Carr fortunately escaped unharmed.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to process the crime scene and interview witnesses.
Additional details are expected to be released during a press briefing at the Pennsylvania State Police Barracks in Dunmore.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.