District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the woman charged with firing a weapon in the vicinity of two Troopers in May, 2024 was convicted after a two day jury trial held last week at the McKean County Courthouse. Sharon VANDRISH was convicted of 2 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Deadly Weapon Enhancement) and 2 counts of Terroristic Threats (Deadly Weapon Enhancement). 

Corp. John Schall filed the criminal charges against VANDRISH for the conduct on May 9, 2024.  After a series of incidents where the Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched by a home security company to a property on Route 59 where VANDRISH was located – one that the Troopers would later testify involved her threatening to shoot them for trespassing – State Police went to the residence again on May 9, 2024.  The incidents escalated and frequently involved a home security alarm activation resulting in their dispatch or vehicle alarm after they arrived to threats to the responding officers.

When they arrived at approximately 7pm, VANDRISH set off her car alarm and shot a firearm in the vicinity of three Troopers who had set up a perimeter in the rear of the property. One of the Troopers radioed in that he was trapped by a shed on the property as it was unknown where VANDRISH had shot and what would happen next.  Another Trooper ran to check on him and, together, they all escaped injury.

Corporal Schall yelled over the loud speaker to drop the firearm but VANDRISH responded that she was not dropping the firearm and, also, that they needed to get off the property and she retreated to the residence.  Over the next 9 hours, the Pennsylvania State Police and their Emergency Response Team known as S.E.R.T. attempted to negotiate her surrender on a warrant for her arrest.  Route 59 was closed during the incident until she eventually surrendered to police at approximately 4:00 am on May 10, 2024. 

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer: “Police are often the target of violence and threats merely for performing their duties – some for which they can prepare and take precautions and others they cannot because they are required to respond every time they are dispatched.  In this case, the offender fired a shot while Troopers were in the vicinity on the same property.  Some offenders may attempt to avoid criminal responsibility by asserting they did not shoot directly at an officer but, merely, in the area they were standing. But we will still hold them accountable for the risk to life they have created. If an offender intentionally shoots at an officer, they will be charged with Attempted Homicide.  In this case, the offender shot in the vicinity of the Troopers, resulting in charges that show a reckless disregard for the safety of the Troopers and for using a firearm to convey a threat. In this case, we sought the deadly weapon enhancement because it is an appropriate element that will allow for an enhanced penalty since a weapon was used.  The Troopers were at significant risk during this event and I am thankful that each of them was uninjured.”

Sentencing was scheduled for August 14.