Man pumping gas killed, one wounded, suspect found dead after shooting spree in Pennsylvania
A man opened fire at a convenience store in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, killing a truck driver who was pumping gas and wounding another man before taking his own life, officials said.
The man had first shot at a car on a highway several miles away before heading to the convenience store, according to Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin. The woman in the car told authorities she didn't realize her car had been hit with a bullet until she stopped at a Wawa store in Upper Macungie Township, outside Allentown. She was uninjured.
The shooter - who had driven to the same store - shot and wounded a man in a Jeep in the parking lot, Martin said, then shot and killed the truck driver before fleeing on foot and taking his own life.
A coroner identified the shooter as Za Uk Lian, 45, of South Whitehall Township. The coroner identified the truck driver as Ramon Ramirez, 31, of Allentown.
Ramirez had driven for A. Duie Pyle since November 2019 and was married with three children, according to Pete Dannecker, a vice president at the family-owned company. Ramirez was likely making a quick pit stop before picking up a trailer for the day, he said.
"People who work with him said he was a great guy, did a great job, everybody liked him," Dannecker said. "The driver had nothing to do with this, just got caught up in somebody else's issues."
Authorities were trying to determine a motive. Martin said the preliminary investigation indicated the shootings were "indiscriminate" and unrelated.
The injuries to the man in the Jeep were not considered life-threatening, Martin said.
The shootings drew a large police presence, and the search for the gunman extended to a day care center several miles away. The Brookside Children's Early Education Centers posted on Facebook: "Today an unfortunate situation occurred. An active shooter was on foot and police took him into custody at our Brookside Parkland site. Everyone is SAFE ♥️"
CBS Philadelphia reports the incident prompted businesses in the area to lock down and caused the closure of multiple roads.
Officials said a Wawa employee who was taking out the trash heard the gunshots, ushered customers inside the store and locked the door.
A spokesperson said Wawa was not making the employee available for interviews but added "we are truly grateful for his efforts to protect customers and fellow associates."
Arthur Sanchez, a security guard for a nearby business, told The Morning Call that he parked next to a car that had bullet holes and shattered windows on its passenger side. He had stopped at the Wawa before work.
