Hours-long standoff ends with hail of gunfire in Bensalem Township; suspect in car dead

Saturday, January 25, 2025
Hours-long standoff ends with hail of gunfire; suspect in car dead
Hours-long standoff ends with hail of gunfire; suspect in car dead

BENSALEM TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- An hours-long standoff situation with two suspects in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, ended with a hail of gunfire.

Chopper 6 was overhead just after 5:30 p.m. Friday as officers had their guns drawn near the Liberty Gas Station in the area of Bristol Pike near Biddle Lane.

For hours, police say officers negotiated with the suspects who were reportedly armed and refused to leave the vehicle.

WATCH: Swarm of officers with guns drawn surround car in Bensalem

Swarm of officers with guns drawn surround car in Bensalem

Tear gas was later deployed twice as SWAT units moved in to make an arrest just before 7:30 p.m.

"After approximately two hours of negotiations trying to get these individuals to surrender, gas was deployed two times, at which point the driver of the vehicle produced a handgun and was fired upon by our SWAT team," said Bensalem Police Director of Public Safety William McVey.

WATCH: Police hold news conference on Bensalem Twp., Pa. standoff that ended with gunfire

Police hold news conference on Bensalem Twp., Pa. standoff that ended with gunfire

The driver, only identified as a man in his 30s, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the second suspect, who was sitting in the passenger's seat, was not injured during the gunfire.

McVey said the incident started with a traffic stop for a window tint violation at Rt. 1 and Old Lincoln Hwy. Police say the suspects were not compliant and allegedly stated they "were armed and will not be going back to prison."

A chase ensued with Bensalem officers and Pennsylvania State Police, which ultimately ended near the Liberty Gas Station.

PICTURED: Image from Chopper 6 shows moments before gunfire rings out during standoff in Bensalem Twp., on Jan. 24, 2025.
PICTURED: Image from Chopper 6 shows moments before gunfire rings out during standoff in Bensalem Twp., on Jan. 24, 2025.

"The vehicle was surrounded and there were collisions between the suspect's vehicle and police vehicles," said McVey.

"They made multiple, multiple attempts to have the individuals come out unarmed so that they could peacefully, de-escalate this, and everyone could go home safely. But unfortunately, that is not the outcome tonight," he added.

No officers were injured in the incident.

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