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Richard “Richie” Benjamin Bolen, 37 of Hanover, had been identified as a wanted man by Penn Township police on Friday morning and by that evening the Pennsylvania State Police announced that multiple officers had killed him in a shooting on Friday.
**Scroll Down For New Details And The Coroner's Updated Statement**
He had last seen by Penn Township Police Department officers at a business where his family works in the 700 block of Baltimore Street Hanover, within Penn Township, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, according to the local police release. When he saw a police officer, "Richie brandished a firearm" and then "escaped [the] business, through a side door, in the 800 block of York Street," police said.
Police wanted Richie for multiple felonies including fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment, escape, and aggravated assault on a police officer; as well as misdemeanors for drug offenses and property damage, the police explained and court records confirmed.
Before he entered the store on Wednesday, he was seen exiting a grey Honda Pilot, and it is believed that this vehicle was also his getaway car.
"Richie is to be considered armed and dangerous." the police stated in the initial release.
While on patrol a Hanover Borough Police Department officer spotted the Honda Pilot parked, at the Sunoco Gas Station, located at 403 Broadway, Hanover Borough, York County.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper James Grothey issued the following statement about what happened next:
"Multiple officers from Hanover Borough Police Department responded to the scene to assist. As officers entered the store, Bolen noticed them and quickly ran out the back door. Additional officers were positioned to the rear of the store, so Bolen circled to the front of the Sunoco while drawing a handgun. As Bolen reached the front of the Sunoco, he encountered more officers and pointed the handgun in their direction. The officers then fired several rounds fatally striking Bolen."
At the request of the York County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police- York Criminal Investigation Unit came to the scene to launch an investigation and the Troop J Major Case Team was activated to assist.
The York County Coroner's office confirms they were called to UPMC Hanover for the "for a fatality resulting from the incident." Coroner Pam Gay plans to release more information. Initially, she did not confirm if the deceased was Bolen but said her office was working with the victim's family. On Monday, her office released a news update following his autopsy at Lehigh Valley Hospital on Feb. 3.
It is now known that Deputy Coroner Molly York went to the hospital at 12:14 p.m. Bolen had been pronounced dead at 12:04 p.m. and the cause was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner was a homicide adding that:
"Manner is ruled as homicide as the coroner's definition of homicide is death at the hands of another. However, the coroner's ruling on manner of death does not address liability. PSP York is continuing to investigate, and sometimes, even with homicide as a ruling, it may be determined to be justifiable."
The investigation continues.
"The Officers from Hanover Police Department who discharged their duty weapons will be placed on administrative duty pending a review of the investigation by the York County District Attorney’s Office," Grothey concluded.
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