The stimulated emission in 2H type PbI_2 crystals has been observed under N_2 laser beam excitation at 4.2 K. The analysis of its gain spectrum shows that the emission is induced by the recombination of free exciton assisted by the emission of one longitudinal optical phonon. At a higher level of excitation, the gain spectrum peak shifts to lower energy side. Possible mechanisms of this spectral change are discussed
