Thomas Pickett Suicide Death,Sugarloaf Twp. Man Identified in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting
HANOVER TWP. — A 66-year-old man killed after an exchange of gunfire with police Monday night has been identified, with the coroner ruling his death a suicide.
Thomas Leroy Pickett, of West Country Road, Sugarloaf Township, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Luzerne County Coroner Dion E. Fernandes announced Wednesday following an autopsy.
The incident began around 9:30 p.m. Monday when a Sugarloaf Township police officer attempted a traffic stop on West Country Road. According to Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton, Pickett failed to yield for approximately two miles before stopping.
Investigators state that Pickett then exited his vehicle, retrieved a long gun, and approached the officer’s cruiser while firing several rounds, striking the police vehicle. The officer returned fire, striking Pickett.
Coroner Fernandes clarified that while Pickett was hit by the officer’s gunfire, the fatal wound was self-inflicted. The official manner of death has been ruled a suicide.
The incident remains under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.
