Pennsylvania State Police trooper shot, killed in West Caln Township, officials say

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper has died after being shot in West Caln Township in Chester County on Sunday night. 

Cpl. Timothy O'Connor was fatally shot after pulling over an erratic driver, officials said during a news conference early Monday morning.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said O'Connor was responding to a call for an erratic driver at around 8:15 p.m. Sunday. About 10 minutes later, Bivens said, O'Connor pulled over the driver near Compass and Michael roads in West Caln Township.

As O'Connor approached the driver's side of the car, he was fatally shot by the man inside the vehicle, Bivens said.

Police said the gunman then exited the vehicle, walked a short distance and fatally shot himself with a semi-automatic pistol. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The gunman was identified as 32- year-old Jesse Nathan Elks, of Honey Brook, Chester County.

O'Connor was transported to Paoli Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He leaves behind a wife and young daughter, Bivens said. O'Connor enlisted in the state police in 2010.

"We lost a dear member of our family tonight, a hero," Bivens said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he spoke with O'Connor's family after the shooting.  

"There are many questions, many of which will go unanswered," Shapiro said. "But the one thing we absolutely know for certain is that their son, their husband, is a hero. He died protecting others, and that is a noble calling. That is something we're profoundly grateful for."

The Chester County DA's Office and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the fatal shooting.

"Our community is shattered," de Barrena-Sarobe said. "We grieve for the loss of Cpl. O'Connor, and we have the deepest condolences to his family. And unfortunately, we just don't have a lot of answers as to why this happened."

Shapiro has ordered all flags across the commonwealth to be flown at half-staff in honor of O'Connor.