Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Man arrested after police standoff
East Goshen resident charged with attempted murder after authorities say he fired 13 shots at officers
EAST GOSHEN >> A West Chester area man who shot at police officers 13 times after barricading himself inside his home was arrested Friday on charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer following a onemonth investigation.
Stephen Buxton, 35, was charged with attempted homicide, assault of law enforcement, terroristic threats, and related offenses following the Feb. 11 incident at his home on the 900 block of Cornwallis Drive in East Goshen Township.
On Feb. 11, 2021, police said Buxton 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.
But Buxton, instead of speaking with the crisis negotiators, fired 13 rounds at police. In response, police fired back, striking Buxton. He spent the past month at Paoli Memorial Hospital recovering from his wounds, and was arrested Friday immediately after being discharged from the hospital.
“After a terrifying night last month, the East Goshen community is safer now that this defendant is in custody.,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “What started out as threats to his family escalated into something more dangerous for law enforcement and other residents in the area. Everyone who responded to this potentially-deadly incident – WEGO police, the West Chester Regional
Emergency Response Team ,and others – were heroic in bringing about a safe resolution. All those men and women have our gratitude for keeping the community safe.”
It all started after a woman reported that the defendant had threatened to kill her, her daughter, his father, himself, and any police who came to the house. The WCRERT also were called to the scene and attempted to contact the defendant by phone and then over a loudspeaker. All attempts were unsuccessful.
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. Sixteen people were in the line of fire from Buxton’s gun – 12 law enforcement and four civilians, including children.
The defendant was injured after police discharged two rounds in response. He was transported to Paoli Hospital where he was discharged into police custody.
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.