Pennsylvania

Pocono-Area Schools Remain Closed as Manhunt Continues

Some schools in the Pocono, Pennsylvania, area will be closed for the third consecutive day as authorities continue to search for Eric Frein, who allegedly shot and killed a Pennsylvania State Trooper before going on the run.

The Pocono Mountain School District canceled Friday classes "due to safety concerns for our students," a school spokeswoman said.

The district, which includes 10 different schools, also canceled classes Wednesday after State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan warned residents in northeast Pennsylvania to be alert and cautious as the hunt for Frein, 31, intensifies.

Thursday night, police shut down road surrounding Frein's parent's home in Canadensis, Barrett Township.

"We are following up on all tips and leads as they come to us and at this point have no new information currently to release," state police spokeswoman Trooper Morgan Crummy said.

Authorities charged Frein Tuesday with first-degree murder, homicide of a law enforcement official and other related offenses.

Frein is accused of fatally shooting Cpl. Bryon Dickson, 38, and critically wounding Trooper Alex Douglass Friday night.

The suspect is a survivalist and is considered armed and "extremely dangerous," Noonan said. "He has made statements about wanting to kill law enforcement officers and also to commit mass acts of murder."

As investigators continued to comb the dense woods in northeastern Pennsylvania Thursday, hundreds gathered in Scranton, Pa. to mourn Dickson.

The Marine Corps veteran joined the state police in 2007. He is survived by his wife of 10 years and two young sons.

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