Man who shot at police a decorated vet

EAST GOSHEN >> Authorities said the man who is being charged with shooting at police officers after barricading himself inside his East Goshen home was a decorated war veteran.

Stephen J. Buxton, 35, was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Justice Thomas Tartaglio remotely from the medical unit in Chester County Prison. Buxton waived his right to a preliminary hearing on all criminal charges.

Buxton served the nation during two combat-tours in Iraq with the Army National Guard, during which he was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Following his service, Buxton was honorably discharged and returned to live with his mother and sister in West Chester.

The charges stem from an incident Feb. 11 when he barricaded himself inside his home after threatening to kill family members, and threatened to kill himself if police intervened. Crisis negotiators spent hours attempting to de-escalate the situation.

After three hours of negotiation, police said Buxton fired 13 shots from a .45 caliber Glock handgun, striking an armored vehicle that had WCRERT personnel inside and outside. According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, 16 people were in the line of fire from Buxton’s gun – 12 law enforcement and four civilians, including children.

But Buxton, instead of speaking with the crisis negotiators, fired at police. In response, police fired back, striking Buxton. He spent the past month at Paoli Memorial Hospital recovering from his wounds, during which time he was sedated.

An independent investigation of the officer-involved shooting conducted by the Chester County District Attorney ruled that the shooting was justified. Buxton is being held on $500,000 bail in Chester County Prison. First Assistant District Attorney Mike Barry will prosecute the case.

Buxton is represented by the West Chester law firm, Gawthrop Greenwood, P.C. of West Chester.

Buxton