Forgive me for posting this here but the Family of Steve Willow and all involved in this need your prayers this morning. Steve was a local contractor that I knew. Details are sketchy right now but it looks like a former employee shot him to death this morning. He was working on his apartment building just four doors up from our home in Liverpool, Pa. I was late getting up this morning but Amy and Gary heard the shots. The state troopers chased the man down U.S. 11&15. The guy shot a trooper through the windshield of his cruiser and then killed himself near Duncannon, Pa. The trooper is in the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in critical condition. The trooper’s name is Ron Colyer. I know that in a big city this is not uncommon but Liverpool is a small, close community in the country. Please put the families all of these folks in your thoughts and prayers. So terrible and so close to the holidays.
Eric “nighthawk”
It’s a great day for fly fishing!
[This message has been edited by nighthawk (edited 09 November 2005).]
Had I risen with my alarm I would have walked out the door to go hunting and right into the middle of this. If I would have gotten the chance I might have taken the shooter down. Soldiers’s instinct is hard to supress.
We will pray for all involved.
As an old soldier you should know it could have been you getting shot also. It missed you for a reason. Now put the what if’s out of your mind and do something to help the living. The others are in better hands.
Your family will need to get through this.
I know; it happend to my family when I was in 1st grade my next door neighbor was shot in my front yard and killed. And again when I was in the 4th grade one of my playmates was abducted and murdered she was so little. It takes time to get over. Remember I said get over (you never forget)
Is the Trooper’s dad or a relative also named Ron Colyer and a retired trooper himself? I know a retired trooper by that name; but, don’t know if he has a child named Ron too. Prayers with him and the family of the deceased neighbor.
nighthawk,
Try to accept the fact that someone bigger than both of us didn’t want you involved, so HE saw to it that you rose late.
I’m glad you weren’t involved.
He Knocks. You Only Have To Ask.
Joe
[This message has been edited by loteckjoe (edited 09 November 2005).]
I don’t know the name of trooper Colyer’s father but both father and a brother were state troopers.
Please forgive me as I didn’t mean to alarm you folks. I have a fatalistic attitude but I don’t take foolish chances. However, given the chance I would have acted. A long time ago I came face to face with my own mortality in the seat of a scout helicopter. The Air Cavalry mental state is that when other folks are in dire straits we rush into the fight. The ground troops called us “Ugly Angels”. If the chance to save another soul meant our own death then so be it. At least our death would have counted for something to someone. Just so hard to ignore those instincts to act on the behalf of others.
By the way, Steve Willow and his wife had no children. They built a big house in the country and used it to bring exchange students to the United States. Steve was a great loandlord and will be badly missed in Liverpool and Millerstown, Pa.
Thanks for all the prayers.
Harold, they say God gives his most worthy the toughest test. You must be at the top of the most worthy list. We will pray for the families and do our best to help them.
Eric, It sounds like from the news early this morning Steve was a great guy. I am sure he will be missed by many. I will say a prayer for his friends and family. It also sounds like the State Trooper will be ok fortunatley. It is a same this guy had to shoot the trooper before taking himself out…
I did know the troopers father and have for many years. Another friend was able to reach the troopers dad at the hospital today and he said his son’s now in stable condition and was very lucky. He was shot in the arm and lost a four inch piece of bone that was shattered and another shot just missed his face. he’s able to sit up and was talking this morn. It’ll probably be a long recovery time for him. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers.
Grn Mt Man,
Thank the Lord Ron is out of immediate danger. No doubt he faces a long recovery but we are praying for him. Small world isn’t it?
Many thanks for the update and to all of you for your support.
Eric,
My prayers are certainly with Steve’s family & friends & also with Ron. It is so good to hear that he will make it.
Prayers also going out to your entire community. Tragedies such as this always touch many lives.
Mike
With KC at 109 homicides so far this year, I cower every time I hear of one that involves a police officer (State trooper, Sheriff officer). My son is in harms way every night in this city. My heart goes out to your friends family, and to the family of the young officer injured … and to the family of the shooter. It is beyond anything I could imagine, at the Holidays or any time of the year. My prayers are with each and all.
We are going to send trooper Colyer a get well card. With your permission I would like to enclose a copy of this post with the card. If you do not want your reply sent with the card I will honor your wishes. God bless all of you.