In the quiet township of Thompson, Pennsylvania, the life of 57-year-old Lori Wasko was brought to a tragic and violent end on the morning of Thursday, August 7, 2025. As she was leaving her home for work, she was shot and killed in her driveway by her 61-year-old neighbor, Carmine Faino. The attack appeared to be the beginning of a planned ambush on law enforcement.
Shortly after 11 a.m., Wasko's boyfriend placed a 911 call from their home to report the sound of gunshots. When Pennsylvania State Troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins arrived at the scene, they were immediately met with a barrage of rifle fire from Faino, who had positioned himself for a tactical advantage. The troopers' vehicles were struck by multiple bullets in what authorities described as an ambush.
Both troopers sustained serious injuries in the attack. Despite being wounded, the officers displayed remarkable composure and bravery. An EMT who responded to the scene was also fired upon, causing his vehicle to crash. Following a standoff with law enforcement, the gunman, Carmine Faino, was shot and killed by police.
Lori Wasko was remembered by friends and family as a loving and caring person with a beautiful smile. She was a dedicated, long-term employee at Barnes Kasson Hospital in Susquehanna. The community was left to mourn the loss of a woman described as a 'beautiful soul,' whose life was taken in a senseless act of violence. Authorities did not immediately release a motive for Faino's actions.
