BATAVIA, N.Y. -ðOne of the New York State troopers who was shot
Thursday in the woods near Pomfret by an individual police think
was fugitive Ralph “Bucky” Phillips died Sunday.

Doctors amputated the leg of Trooper Joseph Longobardo, 32,
during an emergency surgery Saturday, reports indicate, but despite
their efforts, he died Sunday afternoon. During a news conference
at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, New York State Police Superintendent Wayne
Bennett reported Longobardo had died.

Longobardo is survived by his wife, Teri, 13-month-old son,
Louis, his parents and a sister, among others. Funeral arrangements
are pending.

Bennett said Trooper Donald Baker Jr., 38, who is reportedly
still in critical condition at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.,
is currently in a medically-induced coma.

A candlelight vigil in honor of the troopers was held at 2 p.m.
Sunday at the Wesleyan Church on McKinley Parkway in Hamburg.

As of Sunday, a $225,000 reward was being offered for
information leading to Phillips’ capture.

Both troopers were shot about 6 p.m. Thursday, reports indicate,
as they were working a stakeout looking for Phillips, 44. Police
have said the shots were fired from a high-powered rifle capable of
piercing the bullet proof vests the troopers were wearing at the
time.

Longobardo was shot through the thigh, the bullet severing a
main artery; Baker was shot in the back and through the
abdomen.

Initial reports indicated the troopers did not shoot back, but
as of Sunday, police were saying at least one of them did return
fire. It was not clear how many return shots were fired or if the
troopers hit what they were aiming at. Police have said, however,
that at least 11 shots were fired at the troopers from an unknown
location about 100 yards away.

The pair was stationed in the woods near the home of Kasey
Crowe, Phillips’ former girlfriend and the mother of his daughter,
Petrina Wright. Crowe is still in police custody after being
charged for hiding and/or helping Phillips on Aug. 20 or 21. Her
bail was re-set Friday at $100,000.

Wright and the father of her three children, Richard Cantanese,
were also arrested and charged for endangering the welfare of their
three children, when they reportedly allowed them to visit with
Phillips while he was at Crowe’s home, allegedly armed at the time.
The children were taken into police custody for a week, before
being returned Thursday -ðthe same day the troopers were shot.

Some of Phillips’ family members have speculated that the
arrests of his family and friends, as well as the seizure of his
grandchildren, caused Phillips to lash out, shooting the two
troopers. Long before anyone was arrested, however, New York State
Trooper Sean Brown was shot June 10 in the Town of Veteran as he
approached a stolen car police think was driven by Phillips.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s officials have reported that when
Phillips was released or transferred from the Chautauqua County
Jail several years ago, he left a note behind threatening to
“splatter pig meat all over Chautauqua County.”

It was unclear what prompted the note, or in what context the
statement was made.

Labor Day festivities in Cassadaga Valley have been canceled
today due to the potential danger associated with search efforts,
which now include 22 roadblocks in Chautauqua County, additional
roadblocks at the New York-Pennsylvania state line – including at
the border in Limestone with Foster Township, Pa. – and at least
140 police officers per 12-hour shift.

In addition to the three shootings, Phillips has also been
linked to a number of burglaries and car and other thefts, as well
as the theft of 41 firearms from a gun shop in Ellington Aug. 26 or
27. Rifles capable of inflicting the wounds suffered by troopers
Longobardo and Baker were taken during the burglary at Tom’s Gun
Shop, police have said. Police have already linked Phillips to the
firearm they determined delivered the nonfatal shot to Trooper
Brown’s abdomen June 10 in Veteran.

The search for Phillips started April 2 when he escaped from a
correctional facility in Alden.

New York State Police Public Information Officer Trooper Rebecca
Gibbons was not immediately available Sunday night for further
information.