CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (AP) — In Pennsylvania, two state police officers were shot during a gunfire exchange with a suspect, who was subsequently killed, while pursuing a vehicle, according to authorities.

The troopers were transported to hospitals following the shooting on Wednesday, with one in critical condition and the other in serious condition, as reported by the Pennsylvania State Police.

They had been responding to a theft alert at a sporting goods store when several suspects escaped in a vehicle, leading to a pursuit, as stated in the report.

Spike strips stopped the vehicle. Two women came out and were taken into custody, the statement said.

A man in the vehicle “began shooting at troopers, striking two of them,” the statement said. “Troopers returned fire, fatally wounding the male.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them.

“Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro commented in a post on the social platform X.

The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore.