Police officers in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, shot a yet unidentified man who opened fire at a gas station on Wednesday night.
Police Chief Thomas Seefeld has confirmed that the Murrysville police got a phone call at around 8:00 pm. The call stated that a man inside the Marathon Gas Station on William Penn Highway was threatening clerks, and was possibly armed. Action News 4 reports in the accompanying video.
The police arrived to find the man by a vehicle at the gas pumps. The suspect started shooting at the police just as they were pulling up to the scene. Seefeld states that the suspect fired at least two shots. He then began running back towards the gas station, but officers were able to neutralize the threat. The type of gun used by the suspect has not been identified. It remains unclear whether the suspect’s motive was robbery.
“You never want this to happen,” Seefeld said in an interview with WTAE. “Our officers are trained very well, very professional, very skilled at what they do. And, obviously, our job out there is to protect life and obviously from the information I received, this was a definite threat to life.”
No police officers were injured in the shooting. Police have reported the suspect’s vehicle to be a minivan, with out-of-state license plates. The vehicle remains at the gas station. County detectives are currently investigating the crime scene, which covers the gas station to neighboring Dick’s Diner. Andrew Strickland, manager of the diner, reports that the extent of damage is one shattered window due to gunfire. No eyewitnesses or people inside the diner were harmed during the incident.
The suspect was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, where Seefeld says he underwent surgery. His present condition remains unknown.
Kelly Brennan from WTAE gives a full report.
