Pennsylvania State Police are mourning the loss of Corporal Timothy O'Connor Jr., a 15-year veteran of the force who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in West Caln Township, Chester County, Sunday (March 8) evening.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, O'Connor was responding to a complaint about an erratic driver when he located and pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Michael Road and Route 10 at approximately 8:24 p.m. As he approached the vehicle, the driver shot from inside the car, fatally wounding the 40-year-old trooper. The driver, identified as Jesse Elks, 32, was later found near the vehicle and died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
O'Connor joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2010 and was first assigned to Troop J in Avondale, Pennsylvania.He later joined the Criminal Investigation Unit in October of 2016 before transferring to the Embreeville barracks in March of 2022. He was promoted to corporal just months later, in July of 2022.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and mother.
Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, addressed the loss in a statement. "This is a tragic day for all of us," Bivens said. "We have lost a dear member of our family, a hero and member of the Pennsylvania State Police."
The Pennsylvania DUI Association also issued a statement saying it stands with O'Connor's "wife and daughter, family and friends, and the Pennsylvania State Police during this difficult time."
A memorial honoring Corporal O'Connor has been placed on the hood of a patrol car at the Embreeville barracks, where he was stationed. His badge number was 11189.
Investigations into the shooting are ongoing, and authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Elks' motive.
Anyone who needs to talk can call 800-273-8255 no matter the time of day.
[FROM CBS21]
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. — A community is grieving after the loss of a hero, Corporal Timothy O'Connor Jr.
A memorial has been placed on the hood of a patrol car at the Embreeville barracks. A staff member told CBS 21's Maxine Rose that it's the same car O'Connor was driving Sunday night.
The memorial serves not only to honor the corporal but also to reflect.
"I'm just going to say today, on behalf of many of us in the law enforcement corrections realm, that this is an hour, definitely in history, where the nation needs to really come before God and bow its heart and really say, Lord, help us," said Jack Crans, a volunteer chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Police. "My heart sighs and cries for America. And I think the greatest thing I could say today would be this is another incident that calls us to our knees before God."
Community members in and around West Caln Township said an incident like Sunday's is rare and tragic.