Ralph James "Bucky" Phillips (born June 19, 1962) is a convicted murderer from Western New York arrested on September 8, 2006, by the Pennsylvania State Police.

[8] Phillips was being held in Erie County jail for a parole violation, but escaped on April 2, 2006, and was on the run until September 8, 2006.

During the earlier phases of the hunt, Phillips acquired somewhat of a folk hero status, with local businesses selling T-shirts saying "Where's Bucky?

Brown had seen a Ford Mustang which had been reported stolen, and as he approached the vehicle, the driver, who was later identified as Phillips, shot at him and sped off.

On August 8, police were minutes behind Phillips after he was reported on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation in Niagara County, New York; however, he disappeared into the woods.

On August 19, a policeman checking out a motorcycle with invalid tags spotted Phillips and chased him into an apartment complex.

Once inside, the officer discovered a group of people believed to have been hiding Bucky for several days, who were subsequently arrested.

Police believe Phillips shot two New York State Troopers with a high-powered rifle: Donald Baker Jr., 38, and Joseph Longobardo, 32.

Trooper Longobardo was struck in the leg, severing an artery, and was flown to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

On Sunday, September 3, 2006, Trooper Longobardo died following an unsuccessful attempt to save his life by amputating his leg.

On November 9, 2006, Baker was released from Hamot and transferred by NYSP helicopter to Albany Medical Center to continue his recovery.

[citation needed] Kasey Crowe, Phillips' ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, was immediately sent back to jail due to her bail being revoked.

[11] Phillips was originally charged by the United States Marshals Service with "interstate flight to avoid prosecution."

On December 20 he was sentenced in Chemung County Court to 40 years to life for shooting and wounding Trooper Brown.

Helicopters flew low over households at early hours, spooking livestock, waking residents, and scaring children.

Some locals referred to police as "Keystones" or began cheering Phillips being on the loose and his ability to escape capture, despite being having been sighted and despite the hundreds of troopers brought into Chautauqua County.

[19] The police experienced "deficiencies" with the radio system and started to use their phones to communicate in the belief that Phillips was monitoring dispatches.

Family members started carrying video cameras so they could document the police harassment they claimed they were experiencing.

[25] After Phillips was captured community leaders and citizens expressed their gratitude for the persistent efforts of the New York State Troopers in tracking down the fugitive.

[26] From conflicting reports on the mindset of different segments of the western New York community it is apparent that some citizens felt threatened by the large police presence in the rural part of the state while others were worried about their safety in the proximity of an escaped convict.

[citation needed] Initially, the media reported this shooting as a separate incident, unrelated to the search for Phillips.

[30] Angered residents pressured the Chautauqua County District Attorney to investigate the incident and seek justice for Horton's family.