A suspected deer poacher gunned down Wildlife Conservation Officer David Grove in Adams County Pennsylvania last week. The Gettysburg Times [2] has a complete write up on the crime and the suspected poaching.

At 10:30 p.m. Thursday, the 31-year-old Grove observed spotlighting and shots from a Chevy pickup truck in the area of Schriver Road and Red Rock Road, in rural Freedom Township. After conducting a vehicle stop, Grove ordered Johnson — the driver — and passenger Ryan Laumann outside. Grove also ordered Johnson to throw his keys out of the window, and Johnson complied. The 27-year-old Johnson used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot a spiked deer.

Laumann was ordered to walk around the vehicle and stand by the drivers side door. Simultaneously, Johnson was ordered to walk backwards towards Grove, which he did. According to charging documents, Laumann heard Johnson say, “what’s this all about,” and the sound of hand-cuffs clicking. Laumann told police that he then heard shouting, and saw Johnson fire at least three rounds from his .45 caliber pistol at the officer. Both men saw the officer on the ground to the rear of the patrol vehicle, but neither “he (Laumann) nor Johnson provided any assistance, and the two got back into the Chevy truck and fled the scene.”

An obituary for the late Officer Grove is posted here [3].