The tight-knit community of St. Clair Township is now in mourning and paying tribute to Officer Lloyd Reed.
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The suspect, 31, was captured early Sunday while walking near a power plant outside New Florence, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, after a six-hour manhunt.
He was taken into custody without incident.
State Trooper Stephen Limani said in a press conference Monday Reed waas uniformed, identified himself and arrived in a marked police vehicle with another uniformed officer.
Reed, an officer for more than 20 years, fell to the ground, fatally wounded, while Shetler endured a gunshot to his shoulder.
He said Reed spent about five years with his department – and the Hollsopple man’s obituary said he spent years prior as a police officer for Seward, Hooversville and Seven Springs.
A female involved in the domestic dispute suffered minor injuries, police said.
“Mr. Shetler ignored the requests to drop his firearm and aggressively advanced toward officer Reed”, Limani said. Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said he also would be charged with two other counts related to the domestic situation.
Officer Reed’s funeral arrangements will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Johnstown, Thursday from 2 PM until 8 PM. He told police he lost the rifle while swimming across the Conemaugh River while on the run, according to the complaint.
Tom Wolf ordered United States and Pennsylvania flags to half-staff at state facilities across the county and at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg.
Several of Shetler’s relatives said they were shocked to learn of the shooting, describing his alleged actions as out of character.
Porter said she was trying to find out more details. “He’s a very good, loving kid who would do anything in the world for anyone”.
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From inside the home, Ms. Luther told police she could hear someone yelling, “Ray, put the gun down, put the gun down”.
