Surveillance footage shows the man who investigators say shot a police officer in Pottstown on Sunday night. The injured officer is recovering in the hospital and the gunman is dead after a five hour standoff with police. NBC10’s Deanna Durante has the latest on the investigation and speaks with the slain suspect’s neighbor.
A man was killed during an hourslong standoff with police in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, after he crashed his vehicle, fled the scene, shot a pursuing officer in the shoulder and barricaded himself inside his home, officials said.
Investigators identified the man as Andrew Jackson Ecker, 25, of Pottstown.
The ordeal began around 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, 2025, when Pottstown Police responded to a crash on Beech and North Mount Vernon streets. Ecker, who was involved in the crash, fled the scene on foot after the responding officers found a gun inside the vehicle, police said.
The officers chased after Ecker as he ran to his home on Winding Road, according to investigators. Once he arrived at his home, Ecker pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the officers, shooting Pottstown Police Officer Caleb Whitney in the shoulder, investigators said.
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Officer Whitney was taken to the hospital in stable condition. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released Sunday night.
Ecker barricaded himself inside the home and multiple police departments as well as a SWAT Team arrived at the scene, leading to a standoff situation, officials said.
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With the help of his relatives, a SWAT negotiator established communication with Ecker who refused to leave the house, officials said.
Around 10:45 p.m., Ecker was shot and killed. Officials have not yet revealed the name of the officer or officers who shot him.
According to court records, Ecker has an extensive criminal history, including past charges of terroristic threats, weapons offenses, simple assault and harassment.
Ecker lived with his parents at the home where the standoff took place and he worked for his family's plumbing business.
"I have seen like negative type behavior from him. Not this drastic," Ecker's neighbor, Hillary Lavender, told NBC10.
Lavender said Ecker stopped by her home earlier on Sunday and asked for money. While Lavender was at work at the time, she said both her son and her son's father were at the house when Ecker arrived.
“It’s really scary. Especially when he shows up to your house like right before all this and he has a gun on his waistband,” she said. “It’s like, if my baby daddy would’ve let him in, you know, you never know what could’ve happened. So, I’m glad that he said, ‘Get out of here.’ And he did leave my house willingly. So yeah, it’s all really terrifying.”
Ecker's other neighbor, Lou Chillot, said at first he wasn't sure what was happening when he spotted police in the area on Sunday.
"Not really knowing what was happening, I went out to put my garbage out and the police were down in the corner and said, 'Please get back in the house and barricade yourself.' I still didn't know anything," Chillot said.
It wasn't until Monday when Chillot found out his neighbor was dead.
"My heart and our prayers are for the family."
Montgomery County Detectives are currently investigating the shooting as is protocol for officer-involved shootings in the county.
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