Teen Charged as Adult In Trooper Shooting, Bail Set at $3M

The teen who authorities say shot at a Pennsylvania State Trooper after a wild chase in Philadelphia Tuesday morning has been charged as an adult.

Giovanni Cotto, 17, faces the following charges: Criminal Attempt to Murder of the 1st Degree (3 Counts), Aggravated Assault (3 Counts), Assault of Law Enforcement Officer (3 Counts), Simple Assault (3 Counts), Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Possessing Instruments of Crime, and several Firearms Act Violations.

Cotto was arraigned by video Wednesday, and his bail was set at $3 million, Action News reported.

Authorities say Cotto shot Trooper Patrick Casey, 31, along I-676 westbound in Center City. Casey, who was shot in the shoulder and back, is currently listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, authorities say.

It began around 9:30 a.m. in the area between 18th and 22nd streets. That’s when state troopers attempted a traffic stop for an expired registration sticker, Capt. James K. Raykovitz said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

The passengers had been removed from the car, when one of them — Cotto — jumped back into vehicle and took off down I-76, then onto I-676.

Casey, who was called to the scene as back up, then chased Cotto in his cruiser. Cotto shot at the trooper, then crashed into a school bus, which ignited on the roadway, according to authorities. The shooter then got out of the car and continued to fire shots at Casey’s cruiser, Raykovitz said.

No children were on the bus at the time of the crash. The incident caused a closure of I-676 is closed in both directions.

Casey, who was stationed out of the Belmont barracks in Philadelphia, was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he is expected to fully recover.

Governor Wolf released a statement Tuesday morning in the wake of the shooting commending the trooper’s bravery.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Pennsylvania State Police Trooper shot on Interstate 676 in the line of duty today,” he said. “I am relieved to learn that the Trooper is in stable condition at a hospital in Philadelphia. Our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line each day to protect us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. The shooter was swiftly taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police.”