CANAAN TOWNSHIP, PA — Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said Pennsylvania State Police responded to a “frantic” 911 called after 11:30 p.m. on December 21 “describing a scene involving multiple weapons, multiple potential victims and multiple threats of harm,” at 9 Volunteer Way, Canaan Township.

According to a press release from Edwards, “The man was 21-year-old Derek DeGroat. The caller was a family member who said that Mr. DeGroat had a gun and that he was threatening to kill himself. The 911 call was then disconnected; however a state police dispatcher was able to reconnect with the caller very shortly thereafter. The caller again said that Mr. DeGroat was holding a gun and was threatening to kill himself.

“A second person got on the phone with the state police dispatcher at this time stating that she was Mr. DeGroat’s girlfriend and advised that Mr. DeGroat now had three guns on his person and that he would ‘kill police’ if they came there. State troopers arrived on scene and deadly force was used by the Pennsylvania State Troopers on Mr. DeGroat. Mr. DeGroat was pronounced dead on the scene by Wayne County Coroner Edward Howell at 11:53 p.m.

Edwards said there will be a thorough investigation, and the results will be released to the public.