A police officer is dead and another wounded in a shooting overnight in a small southwestern Pennsylvania town.  The suspect was later killed when police tried to arrest him.    

The man suspected of gunning down East Washington Borough Police officer John David Dryer Sunday night was killed after police surrounded his house this morning. State police say 58-year-old Eli Franklin Myers came out of his house and engaged the SERT team with a weapon, and was fatally shot.

The chain of events began with a traffic stop Sunday night around 11:30.  Officer Dryer initiated a traffic stop and Officer Robert Caldwell arrived on the scene as a backup.  The vehicle was eventually stopped on Interstate 70. State Police say the driver of the vehicle got out and engaged the officers in a gun fight.  Officer Dryer suffered a fatal wound. Officer Caldwell’s wound was not life-threatening.

A moment of silence was held on the floor of the state house on Monday afternoon at the request of Representative Brandon Neuman (D-Washington). Neuman said his prayers and thoughts go out to the families of these officers.

Governor Corbett ordered all Pennsylvania flags in the Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities in Washington County to fly at half-staff in Officer Dryer’s memory.  All Pennsylvanians are invited to join in this tribute. Condolences can also be emailed to the East Washington Borough Police Department.