By Lindsay C. VanAsdalan
The York Dispatch, Pa.
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 27-year-old man was fatally shot in a church parking lot in Manchester Township after a police traffic stop, state police said.
Gregory Stough, of Reading Township, Adams County, was pronounced dead at the scene by York County deputy coroners Tania Zech and Matt Groft at about 4:30 a.m.
Northern York County Regional Police approached Stough in his Pontiac Bonneville at about 3:21 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, in the parking lot at Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene, 400 Stillmeadow Lane, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Brent Miller said officers approached because they deemed a vehicle in the parking lot at that hour as suspicious.
Officers discovered Stough was wanted on four traffic warrants and had a suspended license, the release states.
When the officers tried to arrest him, Stough resisted by placing his vehicle in reverse, at which point he “abruptly accelerated backward, trapping an officer between the door and car,” according to the release.
He continued in reverse “and propelled the officer violently into a parked police vehicle,” the release states, while another officer opened fire in defense of the first officer.
He then put his vehicle in drive, moving toward the firing officer, who continued shooting, according to the release.
The Troop H Major Case team is investigating the incident, assisted by the York County Coroner’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, the release states.
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Police stated in the release that Stough’s traffic warrants were for three inspection violations and an emissions violation.
Miller was available at the scene for questions Saturday afternoon.
He said he does not have reason to believe the incident was connected to any other incidents at this time, and to his knowledge, Northern York County Regional Police officers did not have any witnesses to the shooting.
Miller said a forensics team was at the scene earlier today for reconstruction and mapping, but the case could take weeks or more to investigate.
One Northern York County Regional officer sustained minor injuries, and was taken to Memorial Hospital, he said.
According to the release, the officer who opened fire is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting.
Cause and manner of death will be determined pending an autopsy, which is scheduled at Lehigh Valley Hospital at a time and date to be announced later Saturday, according to the coroner’s report.
Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene released a statement on Facebook responding to the incident.
“As the media has reported, a life was lost,” the statement reads. “As a church family, we continue to recognize the brokenness of our world. Today, we are again reminded of that brokenness. Jesus remains the Prince of Peace and gives peace no matter the circumstances. We are calling on all to be in prayer as we process this together.”
©2018 The York Dispatch (York, Pa.)