Once again, situational awareness saves the life of a police officer. He is truly lucky to be alive after exchanging gunfire with a suspect armed with an SKS rifle who opened fire without warning.
KIRKWOOD, NEW YORK: Police received call from woman that her son has stolen her car. State trooper Timothy Conklin spots the car on Route 17 and attempts to pull it over. Car drives through median and stops suddenly. Nicholas Philhower, the 30 year old son, opens fire immediately through the rear window with an SKS rifle, riddling the windshield of Officer Conklin's patrol car with bullets. Investigation is still ongoing regarding just how many rounds were fired on both sides but at one point, both Conklin and Philhower stopped to reload. Nicholas Philhower was pronounced dead on the scene. Conklin, 28-year veteran of the NYSP, sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital today.
https://www.pressconnects.com/story...-shooting-suspect-killed-kirkwood/2708067002/
While no additional details have been released by authorities as a search warrant is being conducted on his home, this has the markings of a possible mass shooter en-route to a target. 30 year old man steals his mother's vehicle, no info on criminal record or ties to extremist organizations. SKS with multiple magazines, still waiting on information on how much ammunition did he carry. Mother likely did not know son was armed. Very interested to hear what she has to say about her son during interviews with police.
Released photo showing the front of Officer Conklin's patrol car after the suspect's first mag dump:
It is VERY possible that many lives had been saved on this night...We don't have much to go by yet, but from what we do have, it does not look good at all.
KIRKWOOD, NEW YORK: Police received call from woman that her son has stolen her car. State trooper Timothy Conklin spots the car on Route 17 and attempts to pull it over. Car drives through median and stops suddenly. Nicholas Philhower, the 30 year old son, opens fire immediately through the rear window with an SKS rifle, riddling the windshield of Officer Conklin's patrol car with bullets. Investigation is still ongoing regarding just how many rounds were fired on both sides but at one point, both Conklin and Philhower stopped to reload. Nicholas Philhower was pronounced dead on the scene. Conklin, 28-year veteran of the NYSP, sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital today.
https://www.pressconnects.com/story...-shooting-suspect-killed-kirkwood/2708067002/
While no additional details have been released by authorities as a search warrant is being conducted on his home, this has the markings of a possible mass shooter en-route to a target. 30 year old man steals his mother's vehicle, no info on criminal record or ties to extremist organizations. SKS with multiple magazines, still waiting on information on how much ammunition did he carry. Mother likely did not know son was armed. Very interested to hear what she has to say about her son during interviews with police.
Released photo showing the front of Officer Conklin's patrol car after the suspect's first mag dump:

It is VERY possible that many lives had been saved on this night...We don't have much to go by yet, but from what we do have, it does not look good at all.
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