State trooper killed near I-279

The trooper's brother played football at Youngstown State University.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A state trooper who stopped a car early Monday was fatally shot in the chest after what police said was a violent struggle, and authorities were searching for suspects.
Cpl. Joseph Pokorny, who was assigned to the Moon Township state police barracks, was shot shortly after 2 a.m. near the Carnegie exit of Interstate 279, known locally as the Parkway West and located about five miles southwest of the city, officials said.
"I just want to say that we are going to work this investigation until the suspects involved in this cowardly murder are behind bars," said state police Col. Jeffrey B. Miller, who had to pause while speaking to reporters to hold back tears.
22 years on force
Pokorny, 45, who had been a trooper for more than 22 years, was found by a Carnegie borough police officer who was passing by the scene minutes later. The officer saw Pokorny's car door open and found the trooper's body outside of the car.
Pokorny had called in information on a black 2001 Mercury sedan minutes earlier, and police were reviewing tapes of the call to determine why the trooper had pulled it over.
Police also were looking for the sedan, while officers from several departments joined in a manhunt in woods near the shooting, authorities said. Police said the trooper's gun also was missing, though they couldn't say if that was the weapon used to shoot Pokorny.
In custody
Late Monday morning, state, Pittsburgh and county police surrounded an apartment building and cordoned off streets in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood, which is about 5 miles from where the shooting occurred. Police took into custody a man and woman and led them from the scene, though officials wouldn't immediately comment about whether it was related to the trooper's shooting.
Pokorny is survived by a son and daughter and his parents, state police said. Pokorny's brother, Frank, played tight end for Youngstown State University's football team from 1982 to1984, says a YSU football record book.
Miller described Pokorny as an aggressive and conscientious officer who was always there to back up his fellow officers.
Pokorny was the 91st Pennsylvania trooper to be killed in the line of duty.
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