Retired trooper shot, killed 2 in turnpike holdup, officials say

FORT LITTLETON, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say the suspect shot and killed by police after a robbery attempt that turned violent was a retired state trooper.

The suspect has been identified as Trooper Clarence Briggs of Newville, Pennsylvania.

PHOTOS: Scene of shooting on Pa. Turnpike

It happened just before 7 a.m. Sunday at the Fort Littleton Interchange in Fulton County in South Central Pennsylvania.

According to police, Briggs tied up two people, one of whom has been identified as 55-year-old Danny Crouse, inside a building next to the toll booths.

A struggle ensued between Briggs and the victims, and the victims were able to escape. Briggs fled the building.

A security guard, identified as 71-year-old Ronald Heist, showed up to the toll plaza in a vehicle.

Briggs confronted Crouse and Heist, fatally shooting both men.

Officials said troopers were on the scene "in minutes" and killed Briggs in an exchange of gunfire.

RAW VIDEO: Scene of fatal shooting on Pa. Turnpike

Police say Crouse had only been on the job as a toll collector for three months. Heist was a retired York City police officer.

Turnpike chairman Sean Logan said commissioners and other officials were "deeply saddened by this horrific tragedy."

Police say after 26 years on the force, Briggs retired in 2012 with honorable discharge.

He was stationed in Troop T, which is part the Turnpike Patrol for that area of Pennsylvania.

A female victim survived the incident. She is OK, police say, and will return to work in the coming days.