Barricade Shooting At Cops Brings Attempted Homicide Charge

EAST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP, PA — A man who shot 13 rounds at police from inside a West Goshen Township home, while threatening to kill family members and himself, has been charged with attempted homicide in the February incident.

The Chester County District Attorney and the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department (WEGO) said Stephen Buxton, 35, of West Chester, has been charged with attempted homicide, assault of law enforcement, terroristic threats, and related offenses.

The East Goshen Township man went wounded to Paoli hospital on Feb. 11 after a gunfire exchange with police officers and stand-off that barricaded an East Goshen Township home and forced neighbors to shelter in place that evening.

An independent investigation of police use of force against a barricaded man who shot 15 rounds at police determined officers acted lawfully when they fired and injured a suspect in February.

Buxton barricaded himself inside his home as crisis negotiators spent hours attempting to de-escalate the situation for a peaceful surrender, the district attorney's report said.

Instead of speaking with the crisis negotiators, Buxton fired 13 rounds at police. In response, police discharged two rounds, striking Buxton, but not fatally.

The District Attorney's Office said Buxton was taken into custody on Friday after he was discharged from Paoli Hospital.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "After a terrifying night last month, the East
Goshen community is safer now that this defendant is in custody. What started out as threats to his family escalated into something more dangerous for law enforcement and other residents in the area. Everyone who responded to this potentially-deadly incident — WEGO police, the West Chester Regional Emergency Response Team (WCRERT), and others — were heroic in bringing about a safe resolution. All those men and women have our gratitude for keeping the
community safe."

The incident happened in the 900 block of Cornwallis Drive in East Goshen Township after a woman reported that Buxton had threatened to kill her, her daughter, his father, himself, and any police who came to the house, the D.A. reported.

Emergency response teams were called to the scene and attempted to contact the accused by phone and then over a loudspeaker. All attempts were unsuccessful, authorities said.

After three hours of negotiation, the defendant fired 13 shots from a .45 caliber Glock handgun, striking an armored vehicle that had WCRERT personnel inside and outside. A total of 16 people were in the line of fire from the defendant — 12 law enforcement and four civilians, including children.

An independent investigation of the officer-involved shooting conducted by the Chester County District Attorney ruled that the shooting was justified.

Buxton is being held on $500,000 bail in Chester County Prison.

First Assistant District Attorney Mike Barry will prosecute the case.

Read an earlier story about the shooting here.

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