Troopers justified in deadly force against armed man, Indiana DA says

Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi ruled that Pennsylvania State Police troopers were justified in using deadly force last month when they fatally shot a man who was firing a gun at them from a rooftop.

“Not only is their use of force justified, but these state troopers are heroes who literally ran towards danger for the protection of our community,” Manzi wrote in a lengthy social media post detailing the investigation into Jonathan Pearce’s Oct. 5 death.

Troopers said they were dispatched to Dixonville Road in Grant around 5 p.m. Oct. 5. Manzi said Pearce took a rifle to the home of a neighbor with whom he previously had a confrontation. Home security video showed him fire three rounds at the fleeing family. They were not hurt.

When state police got there, troopers surrounded Peace’s house and tried to get him to come out, but Manzi said he shot one of the police cruisers. Smoke started to pour out of the house and firefighters were called in as Pearce moved onto a second-floor patio roof and lay down.

“Body-worn cameras captured Pearce raising a long gun and firing at members of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Manzi said. “State police returned fire. Pearce turned and attempted to fire again at a state trooper. State troopers continued to return fire until Pearce dropped his gun.”

He died at the scene.

A toxicology report showed the presence of methamphetamines, Manzi said. He reviewed numerous videos from police body cameras, cameras in police cruisers and home security systems as well as interviews with witnesses and 911 call recordings, among other evidence.

“I have no doubts that the use of lethal force by the state police was completely justified,” Manzi wrote. “It is clear that Mr. Pearce was under the influence of a significant amount of methamphetamine, he attempted to kill four people, and he attempted to kill members of the state police.”