In the summer of 2016, the life of 38-year-old James Allen Nickol came to a tragic and violent end in York, Pennsylvania. On the morning of Thursday, June 9, 2016, law enforcement descended upon a residence on the 900 block of East Philadelphia Street to serve a warrant. It was during this attempt to serve the warrant that an encounter between Nickol and a York County Sheriff's Deputy, Michael Lutz, escalated dramatically.
Gunfire erupted between the two men, leaving both with serious
injuries. Deputy Lutz was struck in the face and thumb during the exchange. James Allen Nickol was also shot and was subsequently transported to York Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 11:38 that morning. The death was later ruled a homicide.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Deputy Lutz was reported to be in good spirits while recovering from his wounds at the hospital. For his part, James Allen Nickol was remembered by his family as an avid fisherman who was great with children, especially his niece. He was survived by his mother, a niece, and his paternal grandmother. His father, a brother, and a sister had all predeceased him. The investigation into the incident placed Nickol as the suspect in the events that led to the fatal shootout.
