49°
It started just before 5 a.m. when officers were called to the corner of Roosevelt Boulevard and Borbeck Street for a possible car crash, authorities said. They arrived to find Packard sitting in his Dodge pickup truck and blaring the horn, according to PPD.
When Packard denied being in an accident and said he didn't need help, the officers started to leave, but police said they heard two gunshots come from his truck.
"Approaching the truck again, the officer observed a firearm in Packard’s hand and retreated while calling for additional officers," the department said in a release.
A barricade was declared, a perimeter was set up, and a SWAT team was dispatched to the scene, authorities said. Police claim Packard fired at the SWAT members before Lt. William Schmid and Officer Officer Patrick Saba shot and killed him.
Schmid, 42, has been with the department for 21 years, and Saba, 38, for 17 years, PPD said. Both have been placed on administrative duty pending the results of multiple investigations.
Police said the initial responding officer's body-worn camera was "activated during the incident but did not capture the shooting itself." They have not said if the SWAT members or others were wearing activated cameras.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bethlehem and receive free news updates.
