Chambersburg man shot Pa. state police trooper while handcuffed, authorities say
Details of a shooting Saturday morning that left a Pennsylvania state trooper wounded on Lincoln Way East near Chambersburg were described in an affidavit of probable cause obtained by The Record Herald.
Robert William Ransom, 20, of Chambersburg, is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer among several other charges after allegedly shooting a state trooper during a traffic stop around 2 a.m. Saturday, according to court documents.
The state trooper was flown to a local hospital and considered to be in stable condition, state police said in a news release on Saturday.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the state trooper — identified as Trooper Jason Brindle — was shot in the pelvic area during a struggle with Ransom, who had been patted down and had his hands cuffed behind his back when the gunshot occurred.
Two state troopers had been on routine patrol in a marked vehicle when they saw a silver Nissan Altima traveling at an unsafe speed on Lincoln Way East, according to the affidavit.
The lead trooper, who was driving the vehicle and serving as a “coach” to the second trooper, initiated a traffic stop in the area of Dunkin Donuts in the 1400 block of Lincoln Way East in Guilford Township, according to the affidavit.
Both troopers approached the Nissan and immediately smelled a strong odor of marijuana, causing the lead trooper to ask the driver, identified as Ransom, to step out of the car.
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According to the affidavit, the lead trooper escorted Ransom to the front of the patrol vehicle and patted him down for weapons, but none were found.
A field sobriety test was conducted and Ransom admitted to smoking marijuana, police said. Ransom resisted arrest, causing the troopers and Ransom to wind up on the ground before getting him in handcuffs, according to the affidavit.
After Ransom was in handcuffs, he continued to resist, causing troopers to push him against the side of their patrol vehicle as they were attempting to get him into the backseat.
According to the affidavit, one trooper then heard a gunshot as they were struggling to maintain control of Ransom. At that time, one trooper asked the other if it was his gun, to which the second trooper replied “no,” according to the affidavit.
The trooper who had not been shot then saw Ransom had a silver gun in his hands as they were cuffed behind his back, according to charging documents. The trooper grabbed the gun, threw it aside and tackled Ransom on the ground before backup troopers arrived on the scene.
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The trooper wrestling Ransom said the only thing he remembered Ransom saying was that he was struggling to breathe while being restrained on the ground, according to the affidavit.
After backup arrived, it was learned that the lead trooper had been shot in the pelvic area, according to the affidavit.
Ransom was arraigned on Saturday and sent to Franklin County Jail after being denied bail.
Along with the attempted murder charges, Ransom is charged with aggravated assault (two counts), firearms not to be carried without a license, DUI, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and driving at a unsafe speed, according to court documents.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10 with Magisterial District Judge Annie Gomez Shockey.
Ben Destefen is a Gannett reporter based in Waynesboro.