Montgomery County DA concludes investigation, clears officers involved in fatal shooting during standoff in Pottstown.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced that a member of the county’s SWAT team acted within the bounds of the law when he fatally shot a Pottstown resident, Andrew Jackson Ecker, during an intensive standoff on April 6. Ecker, 25, was armed with a stolen firearm and had already shot a police officer in the shoulder before barricading himself inside his home, prompting a significant law enforcement response and the closure of nearby streets.

The incident began when officers encountered Ecker after he crashed his vehicle into a parked car just a few yards away from his residence. Upon approaching, the officers observed Ecker reaching for a .22 caliber handgun inside his vehicle. Notably, Ecker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction involving the illegal purchase of a weapon with an altered serial number. Rather than comply, Ecker fled the scene and began firing at the pursuing officers. One bullet struck Pottstown Police Officer Caleb Whitney in the left shoulder, necessitating the involvement of other law enforcement agencies to address the escalating situation.

Throughout the standoff that ensued, Ecker refused to surrender peacefully. As the hours passed, he continued to threaten police and civilians alike. At a critical moment, a SWAT officer shot Ecker as he approached his front door. Following the shooting, an investigation revealed that Ecker was in possession of a .40 caliber pistol, which authorities later confirmed was stolen from a vehicle in Philadelphia in May 2019.

Witnesses described Ecker’s behavior earlier that day. A neighbor recounted that he had appeared at her home, seemingly intoxicated and with a handgun visibly tucked into his waistband, to collect payment for work he had recently completed as a plumbing and HVAC technician.

In his assessment, Steele stated that the actions taken by law enforcement were justified under the circumstances. He emphasized the perilous nature of the situation, which left an officer injured and concluded only after extensive negotiations and intervention. The investigation confirmed that the use of deadly force was warranted, given the significant threat Ecker posed to both law enforcement and the community at large.