Suspected Cop Shooter Eric Frein on FBI’s Most Wanted List, Manhunt Continues
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Pennsylvania Department of Transportation(CANADENSIS, Pa.) — The FBI added suspected cop shooter Eric Frein to its 10 Most Wanted list Thursday, announcing a reward of $100,000 for information leading to his capture. There is an existing $75,000 reward from Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.
The FBI’s action came on the day that Pennsylvania State Trooper Cpl. Bryon Dickson was buried in an emotional ceremony.
The search for Frein, 31, entered its sixth day Thursday after two Pennsylvania state troopers were ambushed late Friday at the barracks in Blooming Grove Township. Schools in the area are closed for the second day as the dragnet continued for Frein, a survivalist and gun expert who often worked on films about war and the military. On Thursday night, roads in Barrett Township were closed as they continued the search, but no one was taken into custody.
New images of Frein show him at rifle practice in high school and stone-faced in his yearbook photo.
The funeral was held Thursday for Dickson, who died in Friday’s gunfire. Hundreds gathered at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton to honor Dickson, a 38-year-old married father of two children.
A second trooper, Alex Douglass, was wounded in the attack.
Police said on Wednesday Frein is also part of a “military simulation unit” obsessed with re-enacting Eastern Europe during the Cold War. He was described as a skilled shooter and is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous.
Frein’s father, a retired U.S. Army major, told police he taught his son how to shoot and that he “doesn’t miss.” The father also told police during a search of the family’s home that two guns were missing — a .308 rifle with a scope and an AK-47, according to court documents.
Frein has a grudge against law enforcement and appeared to be specifically targeting cops, police said.
“He has made statements about wanting to kill law enforcement officers and also to commit mass acts of murder,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said at a news conference earlier this week. “What his reasons are, we don’t know. But he has very strong feelings about law enforcement and seems to be very angry with a lot of things that go on in our society.”
Police also addressed the suspect directly.
“If you are listening to this broadcast while cowering in some cold, damp hiding place, Eric, I want you to know know we are coming for you,” Lt. Col. George Bivens said at another news conference on Wednesday.
He warned residents to be on the lookout, lock their doors and keep outside lights on at night, adding that he believes Frein is still in the general area.
Frein is charged with first-degree murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer and other offenses.
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