Annville man Mitchell James Hammer, 27, died today at the Hershey Medical Center from fatal gunshot wounds incurred while fleeing state police outside Grantville.
The incident began yesterday around 1:45pm when an investigation into a domestic incident led to a warrant for aggravated assault against Hammer for a non-life threatening laceration to the victim.
Today around 10:30am state troopers from the Jonestown barracks visited Hammer’s employer on Coon Creek Road to serve the warrant, at which point Hammer fled into a heavily wooded area to evade arrest.
According to the state police press release, after the foot pursuit a confrontation occurred at which time the trooper shot Hammer, who was then carried uphill through the woods to a state police helicopter that flew him to Hershey.
State police have not yet indicated whether Hammer was carrying a gun or another weapon at the time he was shot.
The unnamed officer who shot Hammer has been placed on paid administrative leave while the state police and Lebanon County District Dave Arnold investigate the fatal shooting more closely.