PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Pennsylvania state trooper was shot in the shoulder Tuesday and the suspects’ vehicle and school bus were involved in a fiery crash along a Philadelphia highway, officials said.
Three suspects were taken into custody and the trooper has been hospitalized in stable condition, Philadelphia Police Department spokeswoman Leeloni Palmiero said.
District Attorney Seth Williams said the confrontation apparently started with a vehicle stop, and that the trooper appeared to have been hit while still in his cruiser. He said the trooper apparently returned fire after being shot. He also said some good Samaritans were involved in the capture of the suspects.
The shooting happened along Interstate 676, which runs through the center of Philadelphia, she said. The suspect’s vehicle rear-ended a school bus, causing both vehicles to catch fire. There were no children on the bus, officials said.
Mayor Michael Nutter spoke to the trooper at Hahnemann University Hospital. He said the trooper was “awake, alert and talking” and in “good spirits.”
State police say the suspected gunman and two others are in custody. A police vehicle near the scene appeared to have bullet holes.
The busy stretch of road was closed in both directions between Interstate 76 and Interstate 95.
No other information was immediately available.