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J.D. Cavrich / Altoona Mirror
Authorities block the road along Route 22 near Canoe Creek State Park, Pa., while investigating the shootings Friday, Dec. 21,2012.
A gunman killed three people Friday in central Pennsylvania, including a woman in a church, before police shot him dead, authorities said. Three state troopers were injured, including one who was shot twice in the chest but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest.
Pennsylvania State Police said the man killed the three people at three different locations, including the church and a private home in Frankstown Township, about 75 miles west of Harrisburg.
About 9 a.m. ET, the gunman fired into the church, killing the woman, before shooting and killing a man at a private residence, police said. Those shootings may have been related, Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio said.
As the gunman fled, his pickup truck crashed into a second vehicle, and he shot and killed the other driver, police said. The truck subsequently crashed into a car driven by one of the troopers on Juniata Valley Road near Geeseytown, and the gunman got out and began firing. The troopers returned fire, killing the suspect, police said.
The woman was killed at Juniata Valley Gospel Church in Frankstown Township, the Rev. James McCaulley, brother of the church's late pastor, told The Associated Press. McCaulley, who was in town after having presided over his brother's funeral Thursday, told the AP that the woman was struck by gunshots that flew through a window of the church hall as she was decorating for a children's Christmas party.
Consiglio said one of the injured troopers was shot twice in the chest but was saved by his bulletproof vest. One was injured in the crash, and one was injured by flying glass from a bullet that was shot through his car window, he said. None sustained life-threatening injuries.
The county sheriff's office indicated that the gunman may have had more targets in mind, saying in a post on its Facebook page that the toll "could have been a lot worse" had state troopers not responded as quickly as they did. As it was, investigators' resources were stretched processing five separate crime scenes, including the church, said Deputy Col. George Bivens of the State Police.
"This is one of the largest crime investigations that I've seen," Consiglio said.
The Blair County Emergency Management Agency said it was calling in counselors for the public to a command center it had set up at the Geeseytown Fire Hall, and a prayer service and vigil were planned for Saturday at Geeseytown Lutheran Church.
Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com
Michelle Acevedo of NBC News contributed to this report.
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Here is another example of shootings and killing people in Pennsylvania the gun issue is on going and will never stop. People kill without guns to. How about kidnapping childen and they find them dismembered know matter what Obama does or anyone else there will always be violence in some type of form.
blah blah blah, I think MSN is going to report on every little gun story for the next month. Can't wait for the next fad to kick in.
Its all the chemicals in our food, water and the air that is making everyone crazy!!!!!!
Some of you people are un-freaking-believable. You sound like mindless drones, the complete blathering of crap regurgitated over and over again by the right...the ones pulling the strings on you freaking puppets.
Of course our politicians and pundants really don't give a crap about us. Do you morons actually believe boehner, bush, mccain, palin, President Obama, biden, etc. actually give a squirt about what happens to you? Unless you have multi-millions sitting around and have power, I suggest you all quit your mindless squabbling.
Those of you STUPID enough to believe that a moron such as yourself or joe freaking redneck and his "kin" armed with a barn yard full of AR-15s or a Barrett 50 cal have a snow ball's chance in hell against our military, you are sorely mistaken. Just our drones alone will decimate your area. Look at all the lives we are taking out overseas. Our well regulated militia/minute men is the "National Guard" and I would even question their ability as well as most of our reserve units to meet the task.
The fact is nobody is going to take away your freaking weapons. BUT...there needs to be some sort of control. SMOKING has serious side effects on your life as well as non-smokers, we found a way to control that and you can still smoke. The first amendmant is the freedom of religion, expression, press...in other words freedom of speech... You can say what you want, HOWEVER, there are controls over where you can and can't say and do things like yell fire in a theater or bomb on a plane.
You idiots jump to conclusions because you do as you are programmed to do so...I understand.
You need to get it through your thick skulls that the "Bill or Rights" did not have a-lot of us in mind when it was written. It also should be called "Bill of Privileges", there are limits and most of you are perfectly fine giving up those "Privileges"...just so it isn't your weapons.
Morons like you are dangerous people. But thanks to you, over 1 million new guns are out on the streets by 31 December 2012. Congratulations !!!!!!
A bit harsh but generally accurate in my opinion. I think most gun zealots know that even with their guns they would be helpless against our military and most don't really want them for protection. I think that holding a weapon gives them a sense of empowerment and virility that they lack otherwise. That is why they have such an irrational response to any reasonable gun control.
Have you forgotten the Revolutionary War, the determined people of Vietnam, and how are we doing on that war on terror. Yea a lot of yahoos could and would make a problem, and I was in the military I would think long and hard before firing on my own.
Forgot the IRA
The funny thing is, the military will be split and America will be in a Civil War.
Yeah our military has been farting around in Afghanistan for 10 years fighting a bunch of goat hearders, but they could totally deal with millions of American gun owners. You should be ashamed of yourself for posing as a member of the USMC! I can guarantee that if the government ever attempted to confiscate civilian firearms 95% of the military would not participate.
The shooter got exactly what he deserved, I'm glad he died.
wow if only 2% of the people in that church had guns he be dead what don't you get you lib tarts the bad guy will always have a way to kill you merry Christmas.
its because they took prayer out of church.
Yup...that's what we need, armed preachers, nuns, alter boys, and all the other brainwashed religious cartoons sitting in the pews armed with all kinds of weapons. You sir are a scholar.
Why do you need guns in a church when you have god to protect you?! Haha
Spot on RBattle! :)
thank you a scholar ? wow and you with your way of thinking when they walk in with guns out and you have nothing but spit good luck with that . we don't need, armed preachers, nuns, alter boys that is your lib tart thinking because your brain is not wired right.just a few armed people and the @!$%# head is out of luck duh
These shootings in PA haven't even made the headlines...Life is cheap.
??? How are we reading it and commenting on it, then?
When the fecal matter hits the fan, and it will. And these liberal imbeciles come to us for food, shelter and protection, and they will. The answer will be simple. There is no room at the inn, be gone.
Right giadawg. LMlAO
Father in heaven,
Please pour out a spirit of peace upon our very troubled land. Let it quell the madness that's threatening to destroy us all.
Peace.
Get over it there is no father in heaven. The madness will stop once everyone stops playing pretend.
In church, huh? So much for the "put god back in schools" argument to prevent these shootings from happening. Where was your god now?! I'm dying to hear your excuses!!
well here is a merry Christmas from my Santa clause. oh my god is right next to you look left. far left
America is 5% of the world population, with 50% of the guns. America has a violent culture that glorifies guns. The people are so controlled by fear, that they don't have the courage to stand up and say enough is enough. You cannot put all of the responsibilities on our leaders, they don't have the courage because of the NRA and the part of the population that thinks that somebody is always coming for them. The NRA does not really care for the people, they care about the gun sellers and the manufacturers. God wants us to help ourselves
Looks like the next Civil War will be started because the liberals will get rid of the 2nd Amendment. Sounds like one side will have guns and the other side will have mean words to say in comment sections LOL.
Bring it on Eraserdope. Not all of us believe in doing away with the second Amendment. You're too dumb to understand that 30 round clips in semi-autos are meant for NOTHING but to kill large groups of people. A 30-06 holding a few rounds makes sense......but 50 rounds? Good for nothing but war and riots.
And tyrant government, the true purpose of the second amendment. Don't worry about me, to old and beat up to fight.
hey i have a trivia question for everyone?
where statistically are the most mass killings happening in the united states?
A)gun shops
b)nra conventions
c)places where theres a high emphasis on security of the public (eg court houses with armed guards)
d) places where anti-gun advocates have made no gun zones for anyone (eg schools, malls, and the such)
in case you did not guess correctly its d. thats why these crazy deranged people go there
There you go again with the logic.
Are guns banned in malls and movie theaters? What a stupid point you make. Get a job.
depends on the state. three shootings in the seattle in the last five years happened in malls and there was no one with guns in the mall except the ones who shot everyone. you know the criminals. the ones who dont pay attention to all you gun control efforts. think about it. no gun zones are on a per state basis. but all schools are no gun zones except those with trained security guards or cops. like in urban areas where you dont hear about alot of shootings in the schools cause they have cops and metal detectors. yes they do shoot each other out of school but at least the administrators in the schools there realize that they have to protect the ones who do not wish to subject themselves to that lifestyle of illegal gun possession and murder. but in the instances of those who die in schools they are law abiding citizens unable to protect themselves. deprived of the right to life and liberty...unable to defend themselves and the ones they are trying to edeucate. so they all die because of a lack of forthought.
See. If we armed all the Priests, Ministers and Pastors....this kind of thing wouldn't happen.
Live next door to a pastor, works with the gangster for Christ, he has a conceal permit. Wish I could get one.
What so you can kill someone too? And this is the Christmas season where we are suppose to wish peace and love to everyone!!
At least the taxpayers wont have to pay millions of dollars for years of appeals for this shooter. They wont have to give him three hots and a cot and medical care for 40 years. Yes, Pennsylvania, today, there is a Santa Claus. Give the troopers a bonus for this one.
I see.
ONLY 3 PEOPLE DEAD this time, eh?
Huh - what does "Wayne-the-Whacko" have to say about this? Arm everyone in church, cause, you know - the only way to stop a desperate/deranged person with a gun is - not to stop him from getting the gun - but to blow him away!?
Oh - no one told the parishioners in the church this?
Oh - well, perhaps the church should have purchased the NRA's "Eddie Eagle Blows Away Church-Going Maniacs" Program for only $495!
No?
Oh well - ONLY 3 more dead, right?
Sickening.
the only way to stop a desperate/deranged person with a gun is - not to stop him from getting the gun -
Yeah, that mentality has worked so well every time it has been tried. Prohibition did not produce armed mafia to control the black market. The war on drugs has not created armed cartels to control the black market. What would possibly make people think that making guns illegal would cause armed gangs to control the black market? Won' t people just accept that guns are illegal and quit seeking to obtain them?
Nobody dying is good, but guns are reported to be used 2 million times a year in self defense. no way to verify that but if its only 5% of that its 100,000 lives saved. Just looking at all sides of the issue.
no offense i understand that yoiu want to keep those who would use guns the wrong way from getting one. but you are also the one who talks about how prohibition did not work. people who want to disobey the law are going to do disobey the law. all you would do is create a black market for it right? i think thats how the argument goes. and since only criminals violate the law you would only have criminals with guns. wierd how you can use peoples arguments against them. since your from seattle...im thinking you wrote that message when you were high as heck considering your new "victory" of pot smoking is legal now. 14 dui's and one dead pedestrian in the first 14 days. going good for you seattlites over there. get rid of guns and maybe your twice as high murder rate for 2012 will raise to say 4 times higher. good luck seattle and surrounding area.
Well, I'll tell ya - I'm nearly 70 - and I would rather have to deal with someone who is completely out of their mind on marijuana - any day of the week - and mostly concerned about where to buy cheeseburger and milkshake - than some of the scary people I've seen at the WAC (our local gun show) down at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. I mean - people who look like they should be incarcerated - not at a gun show!
I've been shooting nearly all my life - been in the NRA twice - hold a CPL - belong to a range - own multiples - from handguns to long guns (rifles and shotguns) to High Standard match pistols - to historic pieces from WWiI and WWI. I've got a .38 - my father's - that's probably older than you! So, you see - I'm not easily characterized as some "anti-gun" nut from Seattle. Far from it.
You can talk all you want about criminals and who has the firepower - it really does not matter. In the absence of comprehensive policy making, and with the upcoming deficit within all levels of government, the country either needs to get a handle on how we're doing things (and I mean everything to voting reform to judicial reform to tax reform to mental health funding to higher education and how it's funded) - or - by the time my girls are my age, I would imaging the US to be an out-of-control 3rd world hell-hole.
And yes, while that's exactly your justification for needing M4A2 and bunch of anti-personnel mines for your "home defense" - to "keep out the bad guys" - what you really don't get is that this entire debate is being stoked from the NRA side because of the $24B firearms manufacturing industry in this country. THAT is what is debate is about. It's only cloaked in the flag and the 2nd Amendment to confuse uninformed and uneducated people - get them upset and out into the streets.
Obama is not "coming for your guns". We need to do basic things like close the gun show loophole and register firearms, extend legal liability to the registered owner and yes (sorry) do away with things such as the stupidity of guys who feel they MUST have a M203 to fit it out, because in reality, they're just lacking in "other areas" of their sad lives.
What is going to happen is this: The NRA and those folks will resist and resist and resist - and then something REALLY BAD is going to happen - and then gun control will be much, much more strict than it would had it been done with some reasonable assessments.
That idiot at the NRA is going to make things WORSE for gun owners - not better.
REASONABLE REFORMS NOW - OR KNEE-JERK STRICT CHANGES LATER. It's your choice.
ha! hey NRA nazis! going to put armed guards in the churches too?
DId he have a "health record"? duh - like that is the way to solve our terrible tragic gun problem? What kind of society does that NRA chief think we want in America. Somebody remove that guy! The stories are mounting and ever so sad!
Given the NRA's proposal to arm all teachers, I'd assume arming priests is next. They can certainly pack a lot of heavy firepower discreetly underneath those loose robes.
America doesn't have to worry about terroist. Americans are killing their own citizens with guns every day. Hard to believe this is the season where we wish each other peace and love.
Seems as though your lousy un educated president has accomplished his agenda. Financially ruin the people and turn them against themselves from all of the stress, and dead end promises.
uneducated is one word
Don"t talk about GWB like that!
Hb probably walks into walls; and then blames the dry wall or lack of more Jack Daniels instructions .
that's hysterical, Tampa Bay. Good one!
I think examples like this idiot, who richly deserved to die a lot sooner than he did, are due to the fact that their mothers have mated with non-human species, such as donkeys and chimpanzees, and then gave birth to them via the rectum.
Mommy - Please give me a bulletproof backpack for Christmas
As a proud gun owner and a father of a 5 yr old sun ,i say put it to a national vote.Have a special election and if it calls to take all the guns,then take all of them.I am sure all of you anti gun people will line up by the millions to volunteer to help go from house to house to collect them wont you.I dont think you will because every anti gun person in the USA are chickens ,they want someone else to do the dirty work.I pitty the poor people who ever do get the job of doing it.I know for a fact it would be the worlds biggest blood bath.
I also know for a fact that you do not know how to spell correctly, or compose a proper complete sentence. Why would anyone listen to you, unless they were less intelligent than you?
Because he is passionate about gun ownership. Just because he is not grammatical perfect doesn't negate his opinion.
a woman in a church shot and killed, 20 innocent 6- and 7-year-olds slaughtered.... how much more proof do we need that god does not exist?