Crime
2 Pennsylvania State troopers shot while responding to call in Franklin County, suspect down
FRANKLIN COUNTY, PA — An investigation is underway after a shooting incident in Antrim Township left three people injured, including two Pennsylvania State Troopers, on Wednesday evening.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Chambersburg Barracks, two troopers were responding to a call in southern Franklin County when they encountered at least one armed suspect.
During the confrontation, gunfire was exchanged between the troopers and the suspect.
Both troopers sustained gunshot wounds and were airlifted by medical helicopter to WellSpan York Hospital.
Their current conditions have not been disclosed.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect was also struck during the exchange.
It remains unclear whether the suspect was transported for medical treatment or pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office was called to the location, suggesting at least one fatality resulted from the incident.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Molly Pitcher Highway and Antrim Commons Drive, close to a Sheetz gas station.
Three medical helicopters were requested to the scene for multiple victims.
Pennsylvania State Police have secured the area and confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reported that the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 were shut down at Exit 3 in Antrim Township to accommodate emergency operations. Northbound lanes remained open.
Dozens of first responders, including police, EMS, and fire personnel, responded to the scene.
The investigation remains active, and additional details, including the circumstances leading up to the shooting, have not yet been released.
Crime
Hector Vasquez Identified Among Victims Killed in Shooting Spree Spanning from Sugar Land to Houston
HOUSTON, TX — Authorities have identified one of the victims killed in multi-location shooting spree stretching from Sugar Land to southwest Houston as Hector Vasquez.
The violent sequence of events, which police believe are connected, left three victims and the suspect dead and has prompted a multi-agency investigation.
First Shooting — Sugar Land (Road Rage Incident)
At approximately 12:30 p.m., officers with the Sugar Land Police Department responded to reports of a shooting near Dairy Ashford Road and U.S. Highway 90.
Investigators say the incident began as a road rage confrontation that escalated into gunfire.
An adult female driver was found inside her vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers rendered first aid until emergency personnel arrived, but the victim was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The suspect, driving a gray Ford Escape, fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
Second Shooting — Houston (Auto Shop Double Homicide)
Roughly one hour later, at about 1:30 p.m., the Houston Police Department received a report of a shooting at a mechanic shop near Fondren Road and Main Street.
According to investigators, a man driving a vehicle matching the description of the Sugar Land suspect’s car arrived at the business and became involved in an altercation with a mechanic.
The confrontation quickly escalated, and the suspect fatally shot the mechanic.
A witness at the scene began recording the incident on his cellphone.
The suspect then turned the gun on the witness, shooting and killing him before fleeing northbound on Fondren Road toward Creekbend Drive.
Police have since identified one of the Houston victims as Hector Vasquez.
Third Shooting — Suspect Found Deceased
A short time later, officers located the gray Ford Escape near the 8000 block of Creekbend Drive, approximately three miles from the previous scene.
When officers approached the vehicle, they discovered the suspect deceased inside from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In total, three victims were confirmed deceased in the rampage:
- One adult female in Sugar Land.
- Two adult males in Houston, including Hector Vasquez.
Both the Sugar Land Police Department and the Houston Police Department are conducting joint investigations into the series of connected shootings.
Authorities are still working to determine the suspect’s identity, motive, and the precise circumstances that linked the incidents.
Police described the case as a “tragic and senseless act of violence” that spanned two cities within a short timeframe.
Several roadways in the affected areas remained closed for hours as homicide investigators processed the scenes and collected evidence.