DA: No Time for Pa. Police to React in Shooting that Killed Officer

Lebanon police officers responding to a burglary call knew the intruder was the stepson of the homeowner. They went inside, not with an intent to arrest him, but just to talk, officials said Thursday.

Lt. William Lebo, who was carrying a ballistic shield and a handgun, entered first with another officer behind him. They simply asked for Travis Shaud to show himself and show his hands.

But Shaud responded with immediate violence, grabbing a handgun and firing three times at the officers before they had any time to react, District Attorney Pier Graf said Thursday during a news conference, providing new details of the deadly event in the 1100 block of Forest Street on March 31.

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The gunfire killed Lebo, 63, who was planning to retire on May 1, and wounded fellow officer Derek Underkoffler.

“Neither man had the ability to defend himself or fire upon the suspect. Neither man had the ability to fend off the immediate evil he faced that day,” Graf said.

Officers Ryan Adams and Kristopher McCarrick returned fire, killing Shaud, 34, who had a long history of mental health issues and disputes with his stepfather, Graf said. The stepson, however, had not explicitly threatened his stepfather before nor broken into his home before, Graf said.

Adams, who was wounded, called for help on the radio while behind cover, and the Lebanon County Probation Officers and the Sheriff’s Department responded.

McCarrick carried Underkoffler away from the scene and remained with Lebo until additional help arrived.

Underkoffler remains in a hospital undergoing treatment. Adams was released from the hospital Wednesday.

Police were originally called to the home on March 31 by the owner who had returned from an outing about 3:35 p.m. and found his stepson’s car parked there. A window had been smashed open.

The stepfather did not go inside. Instead, he called police and provided them information about his stepson and the layout of the home before the officers entered, Graf said.

The stepfather had several guns inside and Shaud grabbed one of them and used it against the officers, Graf said. Family members had tried to help Shaud in the past, but he refused all attempts and refused to take medication for his mental issues, she said.

Officers were familiar with Shaud because of prior law enforcement interactions, but Graf said she was not certain if the officers who responded on March 31 had interacted with him prior.

Shaud’s autopsy revealed he had been shot multiple times, Graf said.

A mental health counselor was not present on-scene, Graf said, adding that she believed their presence would not have been appropriate given the situation. Instead, she said, it was appropriate for trained officers to enter the home first.

Family members had a private funeral service for Lebo, a 40-year veteran of the city police force, Wednesday night. A public memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the Giant Center.

He was the first Lebanon officer killed in the line of duty in nearly 120 years.

Lebo is survived by his wife, Lora; mother, Rina; and daughter, Corrine. He was born in Italy and his family moved to the United States when his father returned from military service, Graf said.

Lora Lebo delivered a message of forgiveness and love, according to Graf. She asked the community to remember the man the community lost, and not the evil that killed him.

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