State police continue the round-the-clock manhunt for the man they say ambushed state troopers at the Blooming Grove barracks.

State police continue the round-the-clock manhunt for the man they say ambushed state troopers at the Blooming Grove barracks.



Cpl. Bryon Dickson II was killed and Trooper Alex Douglass seriously wounded in the Friday night attack.



Police say suspected sniper Eric Matthew Frein, 31, of Canadensis, stalked police from a hidden, wooded area across the road from the barracks, around 11 p.m., and then shot the troopers during a shift change.



"Based on our investigation, it is clear to us that Eric Frein has a longstanding grudge with law enforcement and government in general since 2006," said state police Lt. Col. George Bivens, deputy commissioner for operations.



"We understand that Frein belongs to a military simulation unit based in eastern Pennsylvania in which participants assume the role as soldiers of Eastern European countries — and in his unstable frame of mind, Frein now appears to have assumed that role in real life."



Police would not name the group Frein is involved in, but did say most members are simply role-playing hobbyists.



Police released new photos of Frein, 31, which he posted to social media sites at some point before the shootings. In the photos, he is dressed, role playing, as a modern-day Serbian soldier.

He is wearing a hat in the new photos, but police say he recently got a new haircut.



"Information has been received that Frein currently has his head shaved tightly on both sides with long hair on top, wider than a mohawk," Bivens said. "This hairstyle is completely different from the hairstyle Frein had worn for years."



Investigators believe that this change was made as part of the mental preparation to commit the crime.



"As I did the other day, I'd like to directly address Eric Frein again," Bevins said. "Eric, in the event you are listening to this broadcast on a portable radio, while cowering in some cold damp hiding place — we are coming for you. And it's only a matter of time until we bring you to justice for this cowardly attack."



The state police have received hundreds of tips, many offering credible information and are pursuing each one.



"There have been a lot of concerns expressed about community safety, and specifically the safety of our children attending schools in the area," Bivens said. "While we can never completely rule out an act of violence, I am convinced that Frein has engaged in a personal battle with law enforcement, specifically the Pennsylvania State Police, and will likely stay focused on that fight."

Still, police are recommending a number of precautions:



Be alert and vigilant. If you see any vehicles or persons that are out of the ordinary, report them to 911 or the tip line, 866-326-7256. Do not approach or encounter any suspicious persons or vehicles, but rather report them immediately. The suspect is still considered armed and dangerous. Lock all doors to both your residence and your vehicles. At night, keep the exterior of your home well-lit. Look for open shed doors or other locations that were once secure but now appear open, and immediately report the information.



Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin said anyone helping Frein will be vigorously prosecuted.