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CORRY, PA (ERIE News Now) – We’re learning more about the armed man who engaged Pennsylvania State Police officers in a gun battle over the weekend in Central Pennsylvania.
That battle killed trooper Jacques Rougeau Jr., a Corry native, and critically wounded Lt. James Wagner, who was serving as station commander in Lewistown that day. State troopers shot and killed Stine to stop the shooting spree that stretched over three different locations.
We reached out to shooter Brandon Stine’s sister Christina Stine Hummel. In a statement she told us that her brother was unraveling from mental health issues. Previously he had struggled, but she said he always bounced back.
We saw the massive response as state police pursued Stine who was firing a high powered rifle across multiple scenes in Juniata County.
Capt. Kirk Reese, station commander of Troop E had the difficult duty of informing family members of Rougeau’s death and greeting the troopers body as he was returned home to Corry. He talked about the police response last Saturday. “They knew he was armed and were saturating the area to try and protect the public.”
Christina said recently her brother began thinking people were out to get him again, that the smoky skies from forest fires were nerve gas from the government, that his food and water supply was contaminated with poison. She went on to say Brandon believed he was targeted. She said he was exhausted from days of no sleep and minimal food and water, and tired of fighting for his life.
Stine’s sister said family called police Friday to see about a 302 involuntary emergency mental health evaluation, because he had threatened to kill himself.
Christina also said she texted with her brother during the event, telling him that state police were kind and could help him, and if he would only put his hands on his head, he would be safe.
She said she was sharing thoughts about these struggles because she hopes someone else hears it who needs to hear it and gets help, because mental health issues are unpredictable and real.
She also made it clear that she wasn’t making excuses, and that they never thought something like this could happen. “My heart aches very much for the troopers, their families and everyone else affected. I also want people to know my brother wasn’t a malicious person. He was delusional, experiencing psychosis, and believes he was fighting to save his own life.”
Read full statement here:
Those who met Brandon knew he was a kind and gentle person. He found happiness in helping others. He was slow to anger, quick to make you laugh,and gave more than he took. It was hard to give him anything because he often responded that he had everything he needed. He was the rock of our family unit after our Mom passed away. Even though he was my little brother, I looked up to him. There were a few instances where we feared for his mental health over the past few years, but he always seemed to bounce back. When he began to unravel this time, we didn’t know what to do. He had experienced episodes before in which he became extremely worried about his health and thought he was dying. Often it was a disease or disorder, but two years ago he believed he was being poisoned. He was hospitalized and got better. Recently, he began thinking people were out to get him again. He thought the smoky skies from the forest fires was nerve gas from the government, and he believed that his food and water supply was contaminated with poison. He could smell bleach in his water that nobody else could smell. To him it was real. He wasn’t able to be talked into going to the hospital again because he was convinced they put a tracking chip in him and were in on a conspiracy. We couldn’t 302 him because he hadn’t threatened himself or others. Brandon believed he was being targeted. He was exhausted from days of no sleep and minimal food and water, and he had said he was tired of fighting for his life. Friday we called the police to see about 302 because he threatened to shoot himself. They knew he was armed and experiencing mental health issues. I was texting Brandon the day of the event and told him to put his hands on his head so the cops knew he wouldn’t hurt them. I tried helping him understand the state police were kind and could help him if he only put his hands on his head he would be safe. He responded he was afraid he would get beat or gassed. Again he said he was tired of fighting for his life. His very last text to me was “The state was just trying to take my life. I just wanted to live.” I share this because I want people to understand why this happened. Mental health is unpredictable. The police were brave trying to protect the public. My heart aches very much for the troopers, their families and friends, and everyone else affected. I also want people to know my brother wasn’t a malicious person. He was delusional, experiencing psychosis, and believed he was fighting to save his own life. It doesn’t make it right, nor is it an excuse. It’s just shocking and we are all stunned and hurting! We never could’ve imagined something like this could happen! I only hope that this can reach someone else who may need to hear it. If a loved one you know is experiencing mental health symptoms please get them help as soon as possible. Mental health issues are real and often overlooked. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Christina
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