Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Cumberland County, PA:UPDATE(4): Standoff victim identified, picture included

A man is dead following a shootout with State Police in Cumberland County.

The standoff began in Chambersburg and ended in Southampton Twp. Police say 25-year-old Christopher Unger opened fire on police and did not make it out alive.

The police cruiser and Dodge Neon involved in the early morning shootout got hauled away from the scene Wednesday afternoon.

The driver’s side of the cruiser was covered in a tarp where the suspect allegedly shot out the fixed spotlight. In the windshield of the suspect’s car you can see at least one gunshot.

“They attempted to make a traffic stop that turned into a police standoff,” stated Trooper Michele Davis.

Around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, two troopers were dispatched from the Carlisle barracks after a call from Chambersburg troopers. They were looking for Christopher Unger, who they believed fled a domestic violence incident in Chambersburg an hour before.

The suspect was heading home to the 100 block of Thompson Hollow Road in Southampton Township. According to police, when Unger saw the Carlisle troopers approach he fired first with a rifle.

An exchange followed and shortly after the SERT team came in and discovered Unger dead.

“It was about 4 a.m. I heard cars zooming by, they didn’t have the bubble lights on,” stated neighbor Jason Gallow.

The normally quiet street of homes and cabins became a flurry of police activity. Police kept neighbors and residents on the road at bay for most of Wednesday, but assured them they were in no danger.

An autopsy is expected Thursday tol determine exactly what killed Unger. The coroner will only say there is evidence he sustained gunshot wounds.

State Police are investigating if Unger fired a shot during the Chambersburg incident. No troopers were hurt.

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