Update on Erie Police Department Sgt. David Stucke

An Erie man has been charged with attempted murder and other charges in the July 30, 2023 shooting of an Erie Police Department patrol sergeant. The officer remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Patrick Gleba, 27, of Erie, has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, attempted criminal homicide, and aggravated assault on a police officer in the shooting of Erie Police Department patrol sergeant David Stucke.

The Pennsylvania State Police are handling the investigation.

The details:

At a news conference on Monday, July 31, 2023, at Troop E headquarters in Lawrence Park Township, Capt. Kirk Reese, commander of Troop E, said that Gleba, wearing military-style ballistic bullet-proof body armor, used an automatic “AR-style rifle” to shoot at three EPD officers on Sunday, July 30, 2023. At about 5:00 a.m., Sgt. David Stucke, was shot once in the leg after responding with other EPD officers to a shots-fired call in the 500 block of East 22nd Street.

After being shot, Sgt. Stucke found cover and applied to his leg a tourniquet that he carried with him. While officers returned fire, several assisted Stucke.

Stucke remains in stable condition at UPMC Hamot.

“He will have a very long road to recovery,” said Erie Police Department Chief Dan Spizarny on Monday. “We send our thoughts and prayers to his family.”

Gleba surrendered to police at the scene and was taken into custody.

This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information on the shooting, contact Pennsylvania State Police at 814-898-1641.

About Sgt. Stucke:

Sgt. Stucke, 42, has been a member of the Erie Police Department since January 2009. He’s married with four children. He also served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps., deployed to Iraq in 2001 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Stucke is a third-generation police officer. Both of his parents are retired EPD officers, and two of his uncles are retired EPD Chiefs of Police, as was his grandfather.

Sgt. Stucke says he plans on returning to the EPD. Late on Sunday, after waking up in the ICU, David wrote, “I am not leaving the street.”

How you can help:

The Community Blood Bank will hold a blood drive in honor of Sgt. Stucke from Wednesday, Aug. 2 to Monday, Aug. 7. Donate in his name at their donor center, 2646 Peach St., to receive special gifts. In addition, on Monday, Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Blood Bank will take donations in their bloodmobile parked on South Park Row beside City Hall, 626 State St. Appointments are required for the bloodmobile. Call 814-456-4206 to register to donate at either location. Here are the Blood Bank’s hours:

• Aug. 2:             10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Aug. 3 & 4:      8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Aug. 5:             9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Aug. 7: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.