law enforcement

Pennsylvania State Trooper Killed in Shooting Near Altoona, Suspect Deceased Following Manhunt

After a manhunt that lasted almost 18 hours, a suspect is dead, state police said.

The suspect in the fatal shooting of a first-year Pennsylvania trooper was shot and killed after making threats to police who located him Saturday morning, authorities said.

Trooper Landon Weaver, 23, was killed responding to a domestic complaint Friday evening in a rural area in Huntingdon County, in central Pennsylvania. An overnight manhunt for the suspect ended Saturday morning when police found 32-year-old Jason Robison at an unoccupied mobile home in the area, authorities said.

Cpl. Adam Reed, a state police spokesman, said Robison refused orders and threatened officers on the scene, leading police to shoot him. His death was confirmed at about 10:30 a.m.

Weaver was responding to a reported violation of a protection-from-abuse order when he was shot. Details of that complaint were not immediately available, and Reed did not immediately know who owned the home where Weaver was killed.

For nearly 18 hours after the shooting at 6:30 p.m., a manhunt for the suspect, identified as Jason Robison, 32, involved law enforcement across Huntingdon County.

Eventually, shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday, state police tweeted that Robison "was deceased." Later, officials said in a statement that Weaver was found a short distance from the location of the initial shooting.

"Troopers encountered Weaver at an unoccupied mobile home not far from his residence," the statement said. "Robison refused commands to surrender, made threats to harm additional law enforcement personnel, and was shot and killed in the ensuing confrontation."

Robison, who has been arrested numerous times since 2005, was freed on bail earlier this month for charges apparently involving a stolen vehicle in October, according to court records.

Weaver, originally from East Freedom in Blair County, was assigned to the Huntingdon barracks, and enlisted in the state police in December 2015 after graduating from the police academy in June.

Tpr. Weaver
Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania Trooper Landon Weaver, 25, was killed Dec. 30, 2016, responding to a domestic dispute near Altoona.

Further details were not immediately known about the initial shooting, and Huntingdon County District Attorney David Smith called the investigation "very fluid."

The area is remote and heavily wooded. Police used helicopters to assist in the search for Robison. People who live in the area were kept away from their homes, and roads were closed during the manhunt.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf released a statement late Friday. 

“On behalf of all Pennsylvanians, Frances and I extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Trooper Weaver and all members of the State Police across Pennsylvania in this moment of tragedy. Landon will always be remembered for his bravery, his sacrifice, and his willingness to serve."

Robison was released Dec. 6 from Huntingdon County jail on $10,000 bail for charges that included receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving without a license, according to online court records.

Another active court case for Robison involved simple assault and harassment charges from an April 4, 2016, incident, the records show.

At least eight other closed cases involving Robison appear in Huntingdon County court dockets, dating back to 2005.

Weaver was the 97th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to be killed in the line of duty.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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