Helmet Saves Pennsylvania Trooper Shot in Head During Standoff; Suspect Killed

BELLEGROVE, Pa. -- A 14-hour standoff ended just before 9 a.m. Wednesday when a state-police sniper shot and killed a 57-year-old North Annville Township man.

After barricading himself inside his home overnight and firing more than 50 rounds at troopers, Samuel Lee Snyder

of 1341 North State Route 934 appeared armed at his front door and was fatally wounded by a marksman from the state police Special Emergency Response Team, said Sgt. Paul Gaspich, commander of the Jonestown state police station.

The trooper who killed Snyder was protecting his fellow SERT members, Gaspich said.

"They were exposed and in a dangerous situation, and Mr. Snyder was armed and ready to discharge a weapon in the direction of the SERT members," he said. "He did his job to protect his fellow members."

A SERT member was injured earlier in the morning when the team entered Snyder's home and Snyder began shooting at them. He was struck in his helmet and knocked unconscious.

The wounded SERT member was dragged out of the house by his teammates and was transported to Hershey Medical Center.

Gaspich said he was amazed at the professionalism of the SERT members, who went right back to doing their job after their teammate was wounded.

"A lot of times when you're doing the job, you can't think of the dangers of the job, but obviously when you hear that call go out, it becomes reality that this could happen to me and my brother next to me on my left and right," he said. "All of us will feel this tonight, and all of us will feel this for days to come."

How it went down

The incident began just after 7 p.m. Tuesday when troopers went to Snyder's residence to serve an emergency mental health commitment on him. Gaspich said state police had

received information indicating that Snyder was distraught and was armed and intended to cause harm to responding troopers.

"Over the previous several weeks, Snyder has become increasingly distraught over the death of his son that occurred on February 25th, and made statements indicating he would be justified in harming state troopers if they responded to his residence," Gaspich said.

When troopers arrived at Snyder's house, he was standing at his front door yelling at them. The troopers attempted to let him know that the purpose of their visit was to have him evaluated for mental-health stability, Gaspich said.

"This was not an arrest warrant; this was a mental-health commitment," he said.

Snyder told the troopers he would not come out of the house, and for about two hours the troopers tried to hail Snyder with no success.

At 10:04 p.m., Snyder began shooting at the troopers and two SERT armored vehicles, known as BearCats. Between 10:04 and 10:18, Snyder discharged 40 to 50 rounds with various weapons at troopers and the armored vehicles, Gaspich said.

"He did strike both of the armored vehicles in multiple locations, attempting to inflict harm on the troopers who were in those vehicles," Gaspich said.

Gaspich said it was a "very chaotic situation" when Snyder began shooting.

"In the initial onset of gunfire, there were approximately 30 troopers who were in the direct line of fire of Mr. Snyder's weapons," he said. "Troopers definitely faced grave injury."

The troopers continued to attempt to negotiate with Snyder throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but he would not respond. At 6 a.m., about 15 SERT members entered Snyder's house to check on his well-being.

"Upon making entry, several SERT members were met with successive gunfire, and one SERT member was struck in the ballistic helmet by gunfire, and he did receive an injury," Gaspich said. "That member was immediately evacuated from the residence, and the entire SERT team extricated themselves from the residence while under gunfire."

The wounded SERT member was struck about one inch from the bottom of the front of his helmet, Gaspich said.

"Fortunately it was above the lower brim of the helmet and the ballistic helmet did its job, but he did suffer a wound to his head as the bullet penetrated the ballistic helmet," he said.

The injured SERT member, whose name is being withheld, is expected to make a full recovery, Gaspich said.

After the troopers left the house, Snyder was not seen for about two hours until he appeared at the door at 8:56 a.m. and was fatally wounded by the SERT sniper. When troopers approached Snyder, they saw a hand grenade lying next to his body, and that he was clad in body armor, Gaspich said.

The state police Hazardous Devices and Explosives section was called in to dispose of the grenade.

Gaspich said the SERT members are very highly trained in these types of situations, and many of them have faced similar situations in the past.

"We have very strict rules of engagement and members at that point were basically taking cover and looking out for each other and following the rules of engagement," he said.

Other than the fatal shot, the only time troopers fired back at Snyder was when they entered his house and Snyder started shooting at them, Gaspich said.

"They were under gunfire, and the only way they could extricate their wounded member, they had to back out of the residence while under fire and they did return fire," he said. "During the exchange of 40 to 50 rounds, Pennsylvania state police did not return fire. He shot at us 40 to 50 times, and we held our composure and we did not return fire at that point. Mr. Snyder definitely had intent to harm us."

Why did he do it?

It was not clear Wednesday afternoon what led Snyder to do what he did.

"He was distraught over the death of his son, and for some reason he blamed the Pennsylvania State Police for that," Gaspich said. "Luckily, we found that information out ... and took the appropriate measures when we responded in the first place."

State police received information from various sources that Snyder intended to cause harm to troopers and felt he was justified in doing so if they came to his house, Gaspich said.

"There's been history with Mr. Snyder and also the son in the past, and he just felt that he wanted to blame the state police," he said.

Snyder, who was alone in the house throughout the incident, had handguns and scoped rifles, Gaspich said.

"There were numerous weapons located throughout the house, numerous extra boxes of ammunition, and there were indications that Mr. Snyder had booby-trapped the house for when troopers would enter the house to harm troopers," Gaspich said.

Several of Snyder's family members were very distraught and upset over Snyder's course of actions and provided police with this information because they were concerned for his safety, Gaspich said,.

"Had it not been for the information we were provided with, I really think we would be looking at severely injured or worse to law enforcement," Gaspich said. "Mr. Snyder made his intentions known to family members and friends, who came forward to us and let us know about that. Otherwise, I think this would be a very different ending for law enforcement."

Gaspich said it was fortunate that troopers who were on patrol earlier in the day on Tuesday did not respond to Snyder's house, because it could have resulted in an ambush-type situation.

Gaspich said Snyder's place is a large property that includes at least two houses, several outbuildings and multiple abandoned vehicles.

"It was a large area for our SERT members to secure, and there were a lot of areas Mr. Snyder could hide in," he said.

Gaspich said a very methodical search of the residence will be conducted to make sure there is no threat to surrounding residents.

Reaction

The incident caused headaches for neighbors and motorists traveling through the area.

State police, assisted by fire police from multiple companies, closed Route 934 from Hill Church Road to Jonestown Road throughout the standoff and for several hours after it ended. All roads connecting to Route 934 in that stretch were shut down for periods of time as well.

Because of the road closures, the Annville-Cleona School District canceled two buses for the high school, middle school and elementary school. Students who ride those buses will be given a legally excused absence, a school spokeswoman said.

Several residents in the area were evacuated from their homes, and shelters were established at Water Works Fire Co. and in nearby Steelstown for residents of the area who could not reach their homes because of the road closures.

Betty Blauch, who lives at 1370 Route 934 -- across the street and about four houses down from Snyder's home -- was not evacuated and watched the events unfold from her windows. The 84-year-old said she didn't sleep all night.

"I keep looking out my window where I can see it all, and if I see anything that's not good, I'll head for some cover," Blauch said Wednesday morning. "When you're a 4H leader you learn those kinds of things."

Blauch reported hearing multiple gunshots overnight. She said police never came to her door to warn her to stay inside.

Blauch said the police are staged right near her house, located on the east side of Route 934, just south of the split with Blacks Bridge Road.

Despite the commotion, Blauch said, she was not really nervous.

"At 84 I better wouldn't be," she said. "I know what I would have to do if I see something and I have to save myself."

District Attorney David Arnold was at the scene from about 11 p.m. Tuesday until its conclusion Wednesday morning. He said the troopers involved did a tremendous job.

"The level of professionalism displayed by the state police was just remarkable to watch," Arnold said at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon. "They really should be commended for what they did."

McClatchy-Tribune News Service