According to a Public Information Release Report from the Pennsylvania State Police Troop L - Frackville, troopers were dispatched around 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2026, to a home in the first block of Valley Street for a report of an active domestic incident.
Police identified the deceased as Kevin Carlos Cole, 44, of New Philadelphia.
State police say that when troopers arrived at the residence, Cole fired multiple shots at them from inside the home. Troopers were able to safely remove a 35-year-old female victim from the residence and immediately established a perimeter around the property.
The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Major Case Team were activated to assist with the situation.
Authorities attempted to negotiate with Cole, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
Members of the SERT team later entered the residence where they found Cole deceased. Investigators say he appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police reported that no troopers were injured during the incident, and no other individuals were found inside the home.
Officials say the situation was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Several agencies assisted at the scene including police departments from Frackville, Minersville, Orwigsburg, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah, Tamaqua Area School District Police, and the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office.
Route 209 and surrounding roadways in New Philadelphia were closed for several hours Monday as police handled the situation and conducted their investigation.
Cole was pronounced at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak at 2:15pm.
The incident remains under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.