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Searching for Motive in Deadly Turnpike Shooting

LUZERNE COUNTY — State police are looking into why a former state trooper shot and killed two Pennsylvania Turnpike workers in a robbery attempt near Harr...

LUZERNE COUNTY -- State police are looking into why a former state trooper shot and killed two Pennsylvania Turnpike workers in a robbery attempt near Harrisburg over the weekend.

Now some believe there should be more security at toll booths.

The man who robbed the turnpike and killed two workers is Clarence Briggs, 55, a former state trooper who also used to patrol the turnpike.

"I mean it's crazy! It's really crazy. Somebody that was an officer that knows the law, knows right from wrong, and I think it's unbelievable that this kind of stuff goes on," said New Jersey resident Tracy Debonis

Police believe Briggs attempted the heist at a toll booth in Fort Littleton, around 60 miles west of Harrisburg around 7 a.m. Sunday and ended up shooting and killing the two workers.

There are dozens of miles of the turnpike in Luzerne County, and now drivers there are shaken.

"I think it's horrible!" said Ed Lord.

"Why would you try robbing the turnpike?" asked Joan Vincent of Edwardsville.

That's what investigators are now trying to figure out, but Briggs was shot and killed by police when he tried to get away.

Some people think greed was the motive.

"People are addicted to money. People want money and they'll do anything for it, so I think security should be definitely beefed up," said Debonis.

An application of a search warrant police filed to search Brigg's car reveals he was found with two guns near him. Police are still looking into a motive.

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