Two Pennsylvania State troopers are recovering and in stable condition after being hospitalized from a shootout and car chase, following a retail theft at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store on Wednesday, authorities said in an update.
Thomas Pack, 23, has been released from WellSpan York Hospital and is recovering at home, while Lucas Amarose, 31, is stable after being in critical condition and undergoing multiple hours of surgery at the hospital. Both officers were shot multiple times during the exchange of gunfire after the car chase, according to state police at a press conference Thursday.
The suspect, Lamar Foy, 31, was killed by the responding officers after allegedly firing upon them with a 40 caliber gun, according to authorities.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris spoke to the two officers and said they were recuperating.
“Last night, I spoke to both of them. They were conscious, in very good spirits, and I can’t say enough about how they performed during this incident, but also how their fellow troopers and our law enforcement partners performed,” Paris said.
“It’s with a great sense of thankfulness that we are not here planning two line of duty funerals,” he added.
The incident began at Dick’s Sports Goods in Chambersburg, where Foy and two others, Amir Swift, 21, and Giani Jaida McGowan, 21, allegedly stole over $1,000 worth of merchandise from the store. The trio was from Baltimore, Maryland, according to officials.
The retail theft was followed by a car chase that ended when spikes stopped the getaway van driven by Foy.
Amarose, Pack and one other unnamed officer engaged Foy, and the unnamed officer killed him after Amarose and Pack were shot, according to state police.
Swift and McGowan ran to safety from the van and surrendered to police following Foy’s death, according to officials.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens expressed his admiration for the two injured officers.
“I am incredibly proud of those troopers. They stayed in the fight, despite both of them having significant, serious wounds,” Bivens said.
Illegal drugs, cash, paraphernalia and the stolen merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods were found in Foy’s van, according to the police.
State police continue to investigate the incident and have served multiple warrants, according to officials. They do not believe the crime was isolated.
“We do not believe that this crime was committed in an isolated manner, but instead was likely part of a larger crime pattern — and that remains the subject of investigation going forward,” Bivens said.
Pack joined the Pennsylvania State Police last year, while Amarose has served for eight years.
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