A trucker was killed and two others were injured in a string of shootings outside of a Wawa in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on April 21st near Upper Macungie Township.
According to ABC 7 News, the entire string of shootings began on Route 22 between Route 309 and Cedar Crest Boulevard when two vehicles had an “encounter” just before 5 a.m. During the encounter, one of the drivers shot at the other vehicle, and that motorist drove away, unaware that their vehicle had been hit until she stopped at a Wawa on Schantz Road, off of Route 100, for food.
Then, the driver who had shot the first vehicle pulled into the same Wawa, drove around the building, and then shot a motorist sitting in a jeep before opening fire on a trucker pumping diesel. The shooter then fled the scene on foot and ran down Route 100 for about a quarter mile before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.
The jeep driver was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover. The truck driver was pronounced dead on scene. A state trooper was also hurt in the incident – he was assisting with traffic control when he was struck by a vehicle. His injuries were not serious and he has already been released from the hospital.
At this point in the investigation, police believe that the string of shootings were unrelated.
“It appears the three shootings that I’ve described appear indiscriminate and unrelated,” said county District Attorney Jim Martin, in a news conference Wednesday morning. Martin also applauded the quick thinking of a Wawa employee, who heard the gunshots while taking out trash and ushered people inside the building before locking it down and instructing everyone to shelter in place.
The investigation is still “very active” as officials attempt to piece together the situation.