Pennsylvania trooper fatally shot in murder-suicide traffic stop, suspect identified as Jesse Elks

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was shot and killed during a traffic stop Sunday night in Chester County, authorities said. The driver who opened fire later fatally shot himself, according to investigators.

The incident happened around 8 pm in West Caln Township after police received a report of an erratic driver in Honey Brook. Corporal Timothy O'Connor Jr. responded to the call and stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Route 10 and Michael Road, reports ABC6.  

Lt. Col. George Bivens said O'Connor radioed in the stop shortly before approaching the vehicle. That transmission ended up being the last communication from him. "Within seconds, as he approached the car, the driver opened fire from inside the vehicle and struck him just as he approached the driver's side of the vehicle," Bivens said.

State police identified the gunman as 32-year-old Jesse Nathan Elks of Honey Brook. Investigators said Elks exited the vehicle after shooting O'Connor, walked a short distance away, and then shot himself with a pistol. Authorities are describing the incident as a murder-suicide. O'Connor, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
 

One neighbor of Elks, Stephanie King, said she did not know him well, but remembered driving his child to school. She told Fox 29, "I drive a school bus for a living, so I did drive his child a couple years ago to school, so I did know who he was." Elks reportedly lived around 500 feet from where the shooting took place.

She said that when she stepped into her driveway to take a walk with her son, she heard gunshots. "As soon as I stepped in the driveway, I heard gunshots." She added, "A lot of anxious and a lot of sadness for families and kids… all around the kids."

Governor Josh Shapiro joined law enforcement officials outside Paoli Hospital following the shooting and spoke about the loss to the Pennsylvania State Police. "The Pennsylvania State Police family lost a son, lost a hero, and lost a dedicated public servant," Shapiro said.

A police procession later transported O'Connor's body from Paoli Hospital to the coroner’s office in West Chester, while a police helicopter flew overhead as the vehicles moved through the area. Shapiro ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in O'Connor's honor.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said investigators are with the case and examining the suspect’s background and possible motives.

O'Connor served with Troop J at the Embreeville Station and joined the Pennsylvania State Police in September 2010 as part of the 131st cadet class. After graduating, he was assigned to Troop J in Avondale before joining the Criminal Investigation Unit in October 2016. He transferred to Embreeville in March 2022 and was promoted to corporal in July of that year.

O'Connor became the 105th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty. "This is a tragic day for all of us. We have lost a dear member of our family, a hero and member of the Pennsylvania State Police," Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Acting Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said in a statement. "Our hearts remain with Corporal O'Connor's wife, daughter, and family. We ask for everyone's continued prayers to help them during this devastating time."