A Warrington man is headed to state prison for the attempted killing of an Upper Gwynedd Township police officer during an incident in August 2020.
Randy Root, 38, was sentenced on Thursday to 37 to 74 years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury in February on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm, burglary, theft, and reckless endangerment, according to reporting by Carl Hessler Jr. at the Pottstown Mercury.
Hessler’s report states Root showed no emotion in court and made no statement prior to the sentence being levied by Common Pleas Judge Wendy Rothstein.
Randy Root has no reaction to 37-74 year prison term just doled out to him in connection with an Aug. 23, 2020, incident during which #MontcoPa prosecutors said he fired a single gunshot at Upper Gwynedd Police Sgt. Raymond Royds pic.twitter.com/hx6Y5PQ79Z
— Carl Hessler Jr. (@MontcoCourtNews) June 15, 2023
“You intended to kill Officer Royds and you have shown no remorse for your conduct,” said Rothstein, as she imposed the sentence, according to the report. “You knew exactly what you were doing. You pose a current and continued danger to the public.”
Root was convicted in February following a trial in which Root did not testify and his defense produced no witnesses. During the trial, evidence was provided by prosecutors including a recording of a phone call Root made from prison in which a female relative pointed out that he shot at a police officer, at which point Root replied “So?” according to the report.
Though the trial was set to occur over five days, it only took one day and 90 minutes for the jury to render their verdict.
Police were initially dispatched to the area of East Prospect Avenue and Hancock Road shortly after noon on Aug. 23, 2020, for a report of a suspicious man roaming in the area. The suspect — later identified as Root — was reportedly asking residents for water and was observed drinking out of nearby water hoses, police said.
When police initially approached Root, he was able to flee from the scene. Police again encountered Root about 45 minutes later, but Root was again able to evade them, police said.
Police located Root a third time in the area of Cathys Lane and Marilyns Lane, as which point Root emerged from behind a home on Cathys Lane, began yelling at one of the responding police officers and fired one shot from a shotgun.
Upper Gwynedd Township Police Chief David Duffy said the shot, which was fired at a distance of about 30 feet, missed the officer — later identified as Sgt. Raymond Royds — and Root was subsequently taken into custody. The shotgun, as well as a rifle, were recovered from the area, Duffy said, adding they had been stolen from a home nearby.
No injuries were reported throughout the incident.
Root was taken from the scene to Lansdale Hospital, where he received treatment for detoxing from methamphetamine, Duffy said. He was then placed into custody at the county jail.
See also:
Jury Finds Warrington Man Guilty of Attempting to Kill Upper Gwynedd Police Officer
Warrington Man Heads to Trial for Attempted Homicide of Upper Gwynedd Cop, Held on $1M Bail
Man Who Shot at Cops ID’d, Facing Attempted Murder Charges: Police
Suspect In Custody After Allegedly Shooting At Police In Upper Gwynedd Township
