A man died after he was shot by Sacramento officers who were responding to a bank robbery on Thursday, the law enforcement agency said. Sgt. Dan Wiseman of the Sacramento Police Department said officers responded to the bank robbery just before 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Response Road and Heritage Lane. The suspect, a man in his 30s or 40s, was armed. When officers arrived, the suspect ran from the bank, and officers gave chase.Two officers discharged their firearms, hitting the suspect at least once, Wiseman said. He was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. Sacramento police said its officers were physically unharmed, and no one else was injured in the shooting. Officials did not specify where the shooting occurred, but KCRA 3’s Peyton Headlee was at the scene, where a large section of Exposition Boulevard was blocked off by crime scene tape at Challenge Way. Wiseman said a firearm was recovered at the scene. However, officials later said it was an imitation firearm. “None of our officers ever want to have to come to work and be involved in something like this,” Wiseman said. “But at the same time, we have an obligation to keep ourselves safe and the community safe.”Sacramento police said its homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, along with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Public Safety Accountability. The man shot by officers has not yet been identified. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A man died after he was shot by Sacramento officers who were responding to a bank robbery on Thursday, the law enforcement agency said.
Sgt. Dan Wiseman of the Sacramento Police Department said officers responded to the bank robbery just before 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Response Road and Heritage Lane. The suspect, a man in his 30s or 40s, was armed. When officers arrived, the suspect ran from the bank, and officers gave chase.
Two officers discharged their firearms, hitting the suspect at least once, Wiseman said. He was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Sacramento police said its officers were physically unharmed, and no one else was injured in the shooting.
Officials did not specify where the shooting occurred, but KCRA 3’s Peyton Headlee was at the scene, where a large section of Exposition Boulevard was blocked off by crime scene tape at Challenge Way.
Wiseman said a firearm was recovered at the scene. However, officials later said it was an imitation firearm.
“None of our officers ever want to have to come to work and be involved in something like this,” Wiseman said. “But at the same time, we have an obligation to keep ourselves safe and the community safe.”
Sacramento police said its homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, along with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Public Safety Accountability.
The man shot by officers has not yet been identified.
LOWELL — The murder retrial of Billy, Billoeum, and Channa Phan is officially ready to proceed.
Jury impanelment is scheduled to begin in Middlesex Superior Court on Monday morning — or Tuesday if the winter storm forces the Kiernan Judicial Center to close.
The schedule was set on Friday during the final pretrial hearing, where Judge Chris Barry-Smith also denied a defense motion to dismiss the indictment against one of the three brothers, each charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of 22-year-old Tyrone Phet outside his Lowell home in 2020.
Barry-Smith rejected the bid by attorney William Dolan, who represents defendant Channa Phan, ruling that although the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office failed to turn over information tied to a gang-motive theory in a timely fashion, the lapse did not rise to the level requiring dismissal.
Prosecutors have argued the residence functioned as a stash house for the Outlaws, street gang, which they claim the Phan brothers are members of. Due to the shooting, a search warrant was obtained by the Lowell Police for the Wilder Street home, where officers seized guns, ammunition, 200 grams of cocaine, and 100,000 pressed pills containing methamphetamine.
The shooting — allegedly carried out by rival gang Crazy Mob Family — triggered a retaliatory motive for the killing of Phet less than 24 hours later.
Phet was not alleged to be a CMF member, but prosecutors contend he lived in the same Spring Avenue building where a CMF member once resided.
Phet was shot to death in a hail of gunfire while sitting in his car outside the multi-family residence at 55 Spring Ave. Phet — a 2016 Chelmsford High graduate and captain of the football team his senior year — was struck eight times during the shooting.
The Lowell Police recovered 21 spent shell casings at the scene from two different caliber guns.
Barry‑Smith said the prosecution’s decision to pursue a broader gang theory in the retrial “not surprisingly” prompted the defense to seek all information police and prosecutors possessed about the Wilder Street shooting and subsequent search warrant.
Prior to the first trial — which ended in a mistrial after jurors became deadlocked —prosecutors turned over the police report about the incident but not the underlying investigative materials, Barry‑Smith said. That omission was not a major point of contention at the time because the initial trial’s lead prosecutor — former Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Daniel Harren — had elected not to pursue a wide‑ranging gang theory.
Once the new prosecution team sought to expand that scope, Barry‑Smith said, they were obligated to produce the full set of Wilder Street information — something they did not do until recent weeks.
“The Commonwealth’s principal shortcoming is that failure to produce Wilder Street information once it determined Wilder Street was relevant to the case,” Barry‑Smith said, adding that a secondary issue was that prosecutors “were not adequately familiar” with what evidence had been turned over during the first four years of the case, leading to a misunderstanding.
The judge described the discovery violation as the product of “mistake, inadvertence, misunderstanding, and a failure to be fully familiar” with prior disclosures — not an attempt to ambush the defense.
“It was not delivered, nor was it designed to spring evidence upon the defense,” Barry‑Smith said.
The judge reiterated that he has already denied the Commonwealth’s request to expand the scope of gang evidence for the retrial, calling the proposed showing “too thin.”
The Wilder Street material may be considered for rebuttal, but that will depend on how the trial unfolds.
Because prosecutors have since turned over the missing materials, and because the expanded gang theory will not be permitted, Barry‑Smith said dismissal was not warranted.
“I don’t find that the District Attorney’s Office’s conduct was purposeful or egregious,” he said.
As for jury selection, the expectation is it will take two days to get the needed pool of 16 jurors.
The trial will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with an hour‑long lunch break. Barry‑Smith said the case is expected to conclude by the end of the week of Feb. 9.
Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brant told Barry-Smith that the prosecution intends to call more than 40 witnesses.
Brant also raised a scheduling wrinkle: Feb. 8 is Super Bowl Sunday, and with the New England Patriots still in contention for a spot in Super Bowl 60 as of the hearing, juror availability and the scheduling of witnesses could be affected.
“I don’t care, and my desire is to move the case as quickly as possible, but …” Brant said.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Barry‑Smith replied, adding that he may delay the Feb. 9 start time to as late as 10 a.m.
“I might delay things on that Monday, but I’m not going to call it off,” he said.’
The Sun will publish weekly wrap-ups on the trial’s progress, with summaries appearing this Sunday and again on Feb. 8. A final story detailing the verdict will follow shortly after the jury reaches a decision, with the latest possible publication date being Feb. 15.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
Deputies are investigating a home that was hit by gunfire on Tuesday in Wake County.
According to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of shots being fired into a home around 7:15 p.m. on Barrington Drive. When they arrived, they found a bullet hole in a home.
No injuries were reported, and deputies said their investigation is ongoing.
A man fired several guns over 500 times at his New Year’s Eve party, Miami Gardens police said.
A Miami Gardens man fired hundreds of rounds shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve, sending a bullet passing by his neighbor and the neighbor’s family members at close range, police said.
Miami Gardens police started investigating the incident New Year’s Day after the neighbor reported the shots fired on the 17000 block of Northwest 27th Avenue, an arrest affidavit said.
He told police he was outside with his family when “a bullet passed by them at a close distance, placing them in immediate fear for their lives,” the affidavit said.
They ran inside to take cover. The man said he saw several people in his rear neighbor’s backyard firing guns into the air.
Officers saw multiple bullet holes on the metal fence dividing the properties and shell casings in his backyard, the affidavit said.
Police were granted a search warrant, and Dorian Christopher Alvarenga, 28, was inside the neighboring home.
Officers allegedly found about 525 shell casings and 13 firearms. They found a black Glock stashed inside his motorcycle with a damaged or erased serial number.
Alvarenga told police he hosted a large New Year’s Eve party, and he fired about three handguns and one rifle toward the ground, the affidavit said. Other people might have shot guns, but “he stated that he did not know who, if anyone else, discharged those firearms.”
He told authorities during a Jan. 5 interview the gun found in his motorcycle seat belonged to a friend, who was deported to Honduras several months ago, and he stashed it because of his lack of knowledge regarding the firearm’s history, the affidavit said.
He was arrested at the police station.
Alvarenga is facing seven charges, including aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting deadly missiles and culpable negligence, court records show.
He remained in custody as of 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, jail records show.
CHICAGO (WLS) — A shooting-turned-crash left a woman dead and a man seriously injured on the city’s South Side on Saturday morning, Chicago police said.
Police said it happened in the Rosemoor neighborhood’s 200-block of East 103rd Street just before 8:30 a.m.
A 22-year-old woman was driving a dark blue Honda SUV westbound when another vehicle pulled up, and someone inside fired shots, police said.
Police said both vehicles continued traveling until the SUV hit a tree. The other vehicle’s driver sped away.
The woman, who suffered injuries from the crash, was transported to Advocate Trinity Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A 28-year-old man, who was a passenger in the SUV, suffered bruises and other crash-related injuries. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition.
No other injuries were reported, and no one is in custody.
Area Two detectives are investigating.
Police did not immediately provide further information.
A dog was killed after someone fired a gun into a Truckee home last week, according to the police department. Officers are now searching for the suspect. “It’s just heartbreaking. I’ve never dealt with murder, you know, and it’s not a person; it really affects you when one of your family members gets murdered, cold-blooded,” said Kade Krautstrunk.Kade Krautstrunk spoke to KCRA on Wednesday night about the incident. He says he and his family are devastated after their beloved dog, Bandit, was shot and killed.”It’s the hardest thing any of us has ever had to deal with,” he said.Bandit, described as the heart of Krautstrunk’s parents’ household, was shot as the family was preparing to celebrate the dog’s birthday just days before Christmas.”He was kind of the heart of my mom and dad’s household. And was kind of like their staple,” Krautstrunk said. “My parents were hiding the Christmas presents, and like going through all the motions, and sure enough, it’s supposed to be his birthday, days before Christmas.”Officials said the shooting occurred on Dec. 9 along Deerfield Drive, when someone discharged a firearm into the home. Truckee police shared a photo of a man wanted in connection with the incident. He’s described as a Hispanic man appearing to be between the ages of 18 and 20, around 5 feet, 7 inches tall and around 170 pounds with a light complexion, short black hair and a mustache. Truckee police are actively searching for the suspect, releasing a photo of the man seen in the neighborhood on Deerfield Drive multiple times before the shooting. Krautstrunk described the suspect as appearing unashamed and possibly planning to return.”He looks proud. You know, he doesn’t look too ashamed of what he did. And that’s what’s so scary about it. It doesn’t look like he’s not coming back, you know,” Krautstrunk said. The suspect was seen in the neighborhood on multiple occasions, carrying a box believed to contain a gun, as shown in home surveillance video shared with KCRA.”There’s no resting until this guy is found,” Krautstrunk said, pleading for the community’s help. “I’m begging, you know, whoever can help find this guy… It’s hard having to just be on guard all the time, you know? It’s like I never feel safe.”Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect is urged to contact the Truckee Police Department at 530-317-1112 or by emailing crimetips@townoftruckee.gov. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
TRUCKEE, Calif. —
A dog was killed after someone fired a gun into a Truckee home last week, according to the police department. Officers are now searching for the suspect.
“It’s just heartbreaking. I’ve never dealt with murder, you know, and it’s not a person; it really affects you when one of your family members gets murdered, cold-blooded,” said Kade Krautstrunk.
Kade Krautstrunk spoke to KCRA on Wednesday night about the incident. He says he and his family are devastated after their beloved dog, Bandit, was shot and killed.
“It’s the hardest thing any of us has ever had to deal with,” he said.
Bandit, described as the heart of Krautstrunk’s parents’ household, was shot as the family was preparing to celebrate the dog’s birthday just days before Christmas.
“He was kind of the heart of my mom and dad’s household. And was kind of like their staple,” Krautstrunk said. “My parents were hiding the Christmas presents, and like going through all the motions, and sure enough, it’s supposed to be his birthday, days before Christmas.”
Officials said the shooting occurred on Dec. 9 along Deerfield Drive, when someone discharged a firearm into the home.
Truckee police shared a photo of a man wanted in connection with the incident. He’s described as a Hispanic man appearing to be between the ages of 18 and 20, around 5 feet, 7 inches tall and around 170 pounds with a light complexion, short black hair and a mustache.
Truckee police are actively searching for the suspect, releasing a photo of the man seen in the neighborhood on Deerfield Drive multiple times before the shooting.
Krautstrunk described the suspect as appearing unashamed and possibly planning to return.
“He looks proud. You know, he doesn’t look too ashamed of what he did. And that’s what’s so scary about it. It doesn’t look like he’s not coming back, you know,” Krautstrunk said.
The suspect was seen in the neighborhood on multiple occasions, carrying a box believed to contain a gun, as shown in home surveillance video shared with KCRA.
“There’s no resting until this guy is found,” Krautstrunk said, pleading for the community’s help. “I’m begging, you know, whoever can help find this guy… It’s hard having to just be on guard all the time, you know? It’s like I never feel safe.”
Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect is urged to contact the Truckee Police Department at 530-317-1112 or by emailing .
CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday the arrest of a man who they said went on a shooting spree last week. No one was injured.
Justin Sanders, 34, was arrested Thursday in Clear Creek County after allegedly firing shots in two separate incidents.
The first occurred around 3 p.m. at the Western Inn Mobile Home Park, located in the 2600 block of CR 308, where deputies said bullets were fired into a residential unit with two people inside—neither was injured.
Following that first call, deputies issued a shelter-in-place order as they searched for the suspect, later locating the 34-year-old at Georgetown Lodge, where Sanders reportedly fired from a balcony at a person below, who was also unharmed.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident outside Georgetown Lodge, where an associate of Sanders was briefly detained but was released when it was determined he was not involved in either shooting, according to the sheriff’s office.
A motive for the alleged shootings was not divulged.
Sanders remains in custody on $250,000 bail, pending charges that include two counts of attempted first-degree murder, prohibited use of a weapon, and possessing and discharging a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
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Responding officers found three people who had been shot, along with another person, who had suffered injuries to his face.
All four were taken to local hospitals, Police were also told of another gunshot victim who walked into a nearby hospital.
Police said one victim died from his injuries. Two people are in critical condition, and two others are in stable condition.
The victims’ ages were not immediately known.
What led up to the shooting was not immediately clear.
The Chicago Heights Police Detective Division and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force are investigating and asked anyone with information to call 708-756-6400.
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Troy Police responded to Fourth Street near Madison Street after receiving reports of a shooting. The police say that there were two victims struck by gunfire.
Police report that the victims’ injuries are serious but non-life-threatening and that witnesses say the suspect fled before police arrived. There will be a police presence at the scene while they investigate. Anyone with information regarding this incident should report it to (518) 270-4421.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Raleigh Police said late Tuesday evening that a man has been arrested and charged after gunshots were fired on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday afternoon.
Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi, 74, was arrested and charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill, four counts of felony discharging a firearm on educational property, five counts of felony possession of a firearm on educational property, one count of going armed to the terror of the public and one count of cruelty to animals.
ABC Commission Law Enforcement Chief for Wake County Kevin Lawrence said one of his officers was on campus when he heard the gunshots. He immediately took off running toward the sound.
RPD said it appears that Abdal-Rafi got into an argument with a man in front of the International Studies Building. off Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard near South Blount Street. The building houses classrooms on the first level and the King Khalid Mosque on the second level.
Shots were fired but no one was injured. Shaw workers told ABC11 that they heard five shots fired.
A Shaw police officer and the ABC agent took Abdal-Rafi into custody after a short foot chase.
Gunshots fired on campus at Shaw University in downtown Raleigh; police take suspected shooter into custody
RPD said neither man involved in the argument was a student or staffer at Shaw.
Police said Abdal-Rafi had three weapons on him when he was taken into custody. Two additional weapons were found in his car but RPD did not specify what type of weapons.
University leaders canceled classes for the rest of the day.
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Troy Police Department says it has arrested Krista Leverette, 34, of Troy, in connection with the shots fired incident from early Sunday morning in Troy. Leverette was charged with second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Troy Police Patrol Officers say that they responded to the area of Old Sixth Avenue where there was a report of shots fired. Police report that there was evidence at the scene of shots being fired, but that anyone involved fled the scene before police arrived.
Police say their investigation determined that there was an alleged dispute between a male and a female who knew each other. The female allegedly fired several shots from a handgun before both fled from the scene. Police say that the male is not believed to be injured.
Police report that they acquired and executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence on Old Sixth Avenue where they allegedly found a handgun and took the female suspect into custody. According to law enforcement, she is in the custody of Troy Police and will be processed on the above charges.
She will appear for arraignment in Troy City Court on Monday morning. Troy Police asks anyone with information about this incident or any other ongoing investigations to consider contacting the police at (518) 270-4421 or online at the Troy Police’s website.
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Durham City Council voted not to renew its contract with the controversial ShotSpotter technology Monday night.
The decision came a week after a Duke study found it did notify police about more shootings compared to 9-1-1 calls.
The vote was 4-2 with Mayor Leonardo Williams and Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton on the side of keeping the program in place.
“If we’re talking about over-policing Black and brown neighborhoods, uh hello, I’m a Black guy,” Williams said.
He said the people he had talked to were in favor of keeping the program. He also cited a recent survey about quality of life in Durham which noted that people were asking for more police protection.
“Of course, you’re going to get a lot of police response in these neighborhoods if the gunshots are happening in these neighborhoods and that’s just a fact,” Williams said.
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews said the program was another tool for her investigators but one year wasn’t enough to know its full effect.
“One more tool is better than no more tools,” she said. “If we’re looking at prosecution, that’s something that would’ve taken much longer to look at.”
The AI-powered gunshot detection was set up at the end of 2022 to see whether it could lower response times to calls. The Duke study concluded last week it did but did not show evidence it brought down gun violence overall.
ShotSpotter, which has now rebranded as Sound Thinking, did not pick up every instance of gun violence. It failed to pick up eight shootings with one or more victims.
Of the 29 incidents that resulted in arrests, only seven happened because of a ShotSpotter notification.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia Police have released images of a suspect they believe fired a gun near a crowd of hundreds of juveniles near Temple University’s campus Saturday evening.
The university’s Office of Public Safety says it was aware of a “meet up” advertised on social media near Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue Saturday and officers were in place to monitor the crowd.
Still, video from the Citizen’s App show chaos ensuing. Around 4:30 p.m., up to 500 juveniles had gathered near the Liacouras Center. They could be seen running onto the street and weaving through traffic. Police say the crowd did not disperse until around 6 p.m., when shots were fired.
Police put out pictures of the individual they believe is responsible and are hoping someone recognizes him.
“We took the subway, we were in town and the only reason we knew about it was social media, but if we didn’t, we would’ve just took the subway to get here and we would’ve just, it could’ve been a lot worse,” said Jared, a junior at Temple, who says he avoided Broad Street after seeing videos of the crowd.
Police say no one was hurt when the shots were fired, but the violence still rattled students.
“We know what happens in this area and stuff and with more police patrols, it could cut down, but you don’t see them at all unless something actually happens,” said Dmar, a sophomore.
Police say the scene on Broad Street was clear by 8:30 p.m., but half a mile away, on 19th and Diamond streets, a separate violent incident broke out.
Philadelphia Police say there was a triple shooting during a party at an Airbnb around 1:20 a.m. Sunday. Police say a 15-year-old girl was grazed in the head, an 18-year-old male was shot in the arm, and a 17-year-old male was shot in the arm and head. The 17-year-old is in critical condition.
“Everybody just left at one time, there was a bus right here, people hopped on the bus, the bus was crowded after that,” said Ashiya Hopewell from North Philadelphia.
Temple says no students were involved in either incident.
Jennifer Griffin, the Vice President & Chief for Public Safety said of the mob on Broad Street “Keeping the community safe, informed and connected is our number 1 priority, and one we take very seriously.” Adding, “This behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
“When you’ve lived here long enough you kind of disassociate from the idea you might get shot or whatever slightly more scared about,” said Khushi Kumar, a senior.
No arrests have been made in either incident at this point.
EAST LANSDOWNE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Six people from the same family are presumed dead after a shooting and fire at a home in East Lansdowne, Delaware County on Wednesday, a surviving family member tells Action News.
That number includes the apparent gunman.
A fire that erupted in the home shortly after the gunfire, which also left two police officers injured, left the building in ruins.
Three bodies, including that of a child, and a gun, had been recovered from the charred rubble by Thursday afternoon.
“We’re still at the stage of trying to get into the house bit by bit and recover bodies and evidence,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
It all began with a 911 call for a report of a shooting at 58 Lewis Ave. The alleged shooter was identified by his mother as 43-year-old Canh Le.
Le’s mother, Chin Le, told Action News that she heard Canh Le having an argument with his 13-year-old niece in a upstairs bedroom.
Chin Le said she heard Canh Le say he was going to get a gun.
That’s when Chin Le said her husband took her out of the home and the shots were fired. Chin Le said it was her husband who called 911.
Chin Le said she has no idea why Canh Le had a gun. She went on to say her son has no known history of mental illness.
Canh Le is dead, Chin Le told Action News.
She went on to say her other son, Xuong Le, and his wife, Britni Le, were also presumed dead, along with their three children, NaKayla, 13, NaTayla, 17, and Xavier, 10.
McLaughlin Family via ABC News
Exactly how many victims were shot is unclear and cause of death will be determined by an autopsy. Crews spent the day trying to recover the bodies.
Chin Le said the family did not have a history of arguments. Chin Le she and her family came to the United States in 1981 and lived in this area for 40 years.
It’s believed the children went to schools in the William Penn School District. District officials released a statement on Thursday saying it is still gathering information and providing counseling.
Responding officers immediately met with gunfire
Police were immediately met by gunfire when they arrived at the scene Wednesday afternoon.
Sources told Action News on Thursday that the shooter was believed to be firing from the third floor of the house. Two officers were hit and the suspect retreated back into the home.
Officer David Schiazza, 54, who is with the Lansdowne Police Department, was shot once in the leg. The 22-year veteran of the department was released from Penn Presbyterian Hospital at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Police officer released from hospital after being shot in East Lansdowne
Officer John Meehan, 44, who is with the East Lansdowne Police Department, was shot once in the left arm and his injury required surgery. Meehan is still being treated at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.
CHOPPER VIDEO: Officers shot while responding to shooting involving child
2 officers shot in East Lansdowne, Delaware County
Upper Darby police quickly grabbed ballistic shields and dragged the injured officers to safety.
“I heard a lot of gunshots as I just came from the store and then I smelled the smoke about 10 minutes later. And I just seen cops come everywhere, running in their vests and everything,” said one resident. “I heard [them] yelling ‘active shooter, get in the house, barricade, don’t come out,’” a neighbor said.
Neighbor Derrick Richardson recorded cell phone video of the chaotic scene as officers helped an injured officer and called for a medic while they were under fire.
Neighbor Derrick Richardson recorded cell phone video of the chaotic scene as officers helped an injured officer while they were under fire.
“It was very scary, it was very scary. My whole house was surrounded by police officers. Everybody had their guns drawn. Long rifles and the gunshots,” he said.
Chopper video also showed one officer being carried away from the scene and being put in an ambulance.
Chopper video: Officers dragged to safety after being shot in Delaware County
Upper Darby Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt described a volatile and dangerous scene when officers from his department responded to the home and were able to rescue the two wounded officers.
“All officers that were on scene initially were taking on fire, and then when they removed themselves from it, there was no more gunfire at that point,” Bernhardt said.
DA Jack Stollsteimer provides update on shooting the injured 2 officers in East Lansdowne
DA Jack Stollsteimer, law enforcement officials provide update on 2 officers shot in East Lansdowne
“It was because of the Upper Darby Police Department, who also responded to that call, that these officers are alive today. They were dragged out of danger by Upper Darby police officers,” said Stollsteimer. “Everybody in law enforcement and Delaware County works together.”
“I just can’t thank these officers and this team enough for the heroism displayed every single day by our police officers throughout the county, or particularly today. I can’t thank Upper Darby police officers enough for what they did to drag these two gentlemen away from the gunfire – or we might be having a whole different conversation tonight about what happened,” Stollsteimer added.
Home goes up in flames
Stollsteimer said a person inside the home started a fire about 15 minutes after officers arrived.
Intense flames were initially seen rising from the roof and top floor of the three-story home before spreading to the lower levels, largely gutting the structure.
The blaze raged on for hours as crews worked to get it under control. Fire crews were initially kept away from the scene due to the gunfire.
The massive plume of smoke could be seen across the community. It was so intense it was picked up on StormTracker 6 radar.
Firefighters remained on the scene Thursday as wisps of smoke were visible from the charred remains of the house. Heavy machinery moved into the neighborhood as investigators were examining the home.
An excavator was being used to tear down the walls left standing after the fire gutted the building, scooping debris to be sifted by investigators. A medical examiner’s office vehicle was also there.
Neighbors recall chaos
The incident unfolded as school was letting out and families were walking back home.
The entire block was evacuated, according to the district attorney. A man who lives nearby described the frightening scene.
“There was rapid gunfire. I was just sitting on the couch, then I heard, ‘Pop! Pop! Pop!’ (I) peeked out to see, then literally 10 seconds later cops were coming out from everywhere in every direction yelling, ‘Active shooter! Close your door,’” he said.
‘Get in the house’: Resident recalls emergency response after officers shot
‘Get in the house’: Resident recalls emergency response after officers shot
Other residents described the chaos as they ran into their homes.
“All the cops was coming with guns, rifles out and I said, ‘Close the door, leave the groceries’. My hood was up and my car was open,” recalled Veronica Carrington.
“My kids were scared and then I said, ‘Get away from the windows, get down, until we know it’s all safe and everything.’ And my little 4-year-old goes, ‘Mommy I’m so scared.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s OK babe,’” added Stevie Ann of East Lansdowne.
A SWAT vehicle was also seen breaking down a wall of the home.
SWAT vehicle rams burning Delaware County home after officers shot
“I saw the SWAT team, they were parked up on my lawn, they packed into the back of the SWAT vehicle. I think they were attempting to use the SWAT vehicle as shield, but the fire just got to be out of control,” Richardson said.
“Everybody in Delaware County should be praying for these two officers who ran towards fire when everybody else can run away from it,” Stollsteimer said.
“I feel sorry for the people involved [and] the officers that got shot. I feel like if it is true with this 11-year-old — I hope it’s not true because I couldn’t imagine losing one of mine — It’s just a sad situation,” said Stevieann, who is also a neighbor.
“Seeing an incident like this happen is like, nobody would’ve ever seen this type of thing coming. It’s shocking, it’s still shocking. Loss for words, so prayers and condolences,” added fellow nieghbor Tayvon.
District Attorney, law enforcement officials provide update on house fire, officer-involved shooting in East Lansdowne, Pa.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — When Joshua Ballington entered a Circle K gas station in Port Charlotte early Friday morning, he sensed something was amiss.
The cashier confirmed Ballington’s intuitions. She told him a teen had just stolen two “Flash Point” whiskey bottles and left the store. Shortly after, she went to the parking lot and confronted the teen and others in an SUV, demanding they return the alcohol. With no luck, she went back inside.
Ballington, however, had no intentions of coming back empty-handed. He assured the clerk he would get the stolen booze back and walked out of the store.
According to a report from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, he approached the SUV and opened the driver’s door while yelling at the teens for stealing the alcohol. The culprit gave Ballington the bottles and he returned them to the store.
Ballington, 39, had undoubtedly prevented the crime, but he wanted to make sure the teens learned their lesson.
Leaving the store for a second time, he began scolding the teens about their wrongdoings. One of the teens in the back of the vehicle was quite amused by the lecturing.
Ballington told the boy to wipe the smirk off his face. When he refused, Ballington opened the back door and began punching him in the face. Hoping to put an end to the attack, the driver of the SUV, 18-year-old Landan Walters, hopped out of the vehicle, fired two gunshots into the air and began chasing Ballington away from the vehicle.
At around 2:11 a.m., deputies responded to the shooting altercation at the gas station. The teens and Ballington were detained and interviewed. Deputies obtained security camera video from the Circle K and the footage corresponded with statements from the teens about the attack, CCSO said.
Ballington was arrested and charged with burglary and child abuse. Walters was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and contributing to child delinquency.
The teen victim suffered a split lip and a bruise to the right side of his face. He reportedly declined medical treatment.
