Effort man charged with shooting trooper
Staff and wire reports
Police have charged an Effort man with wounding a Pennsylvania State Trooper on Route 33 in Northampton County Tuesday morning.
Daniel Khalil Clary, 22, is charged with two counts of attempted criminal homicide, two counts of criminal attempt — murder of a law enforcement officer of the first degree, two counts of aggravated assault, disarming a police officer, escape, carrying firearms without a license and other related crimes.
He was arraigned at 10:15 a.m. today from his hospital bed. The charges carry a maximum 40-year sentence.
In a news conference, Pennsylvania State Police say Cpl. Seth J. Kelly who was shot three times during a traffic stop has undergone surgery and is in “extremely critical” but stable condition at St. Luke’s University Hospital.
“The thoughts of every Pennsylvania State Police employee are with our wounded member at this time,” said Commissioner Tyree Blocker. “We remain grateful to the multitude of first responders and medical professionals who have provided care, and to all Pennsylvanians for their continued support.”
State police Capt. Richard D’Ambrosio, said Kelly is “a warrior.
He went through a heck of a fight out here along the side of the road.
He has a will to live, and, God willing, he is going to pull through this,” D’Ambrosio told reporters outside a hospital in Fountain Hill, where the trooper was flown for treatment.
The trooper works at the Belfast barracks.
He had ticketed Clary for speeding Tuesday morning and was about to pull away when Clary flagged him down, wanting to discuss the citation and how he would pay it, authorities said.
The corporal began to suspect Clary was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, called for backup and performed a sobriety test. The troopers then tried to arrest Clary, who began resisting, D’Ambrosio said.
“The troopers were in a knockdown, drag-out fight along the side of the road with vehicles speeding by them, and it got very, very violent,” said D’Ambrosio, who viewed video of the altercation.
At some point, Clary broke free, ran to his car, retrieved a gun and began shooting, striking one of the troopers, he said. Both troopers returned fire, hitting Clary several times.
The motorist fled in a blue Pontiac sedan and drove himself to Easton Hospital.
He was later transferred to another hospital, where he underwent surgery.
State police gathered evidence from suspect’s car, which was parked near the emergency room entrance of Easton Hospital and appeared to have its rear window shot out.
It was later put on a flatbed and driven away.
Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement that he and his wife were “praying for this trooper, the family and every member of the Pennsylvania State Police.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.