A man who shot at police officers responding to an armed robbery in Pittsburgh’s East Hills will spend 18 to 36 years in state prison.

Timothy Franks, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Monday to the Jan. 18, 2019, robbery of a Family Dollar store in East Hills. He also pleaded guilty to robbing another Family Dollar store about a mile away an hour earlier.

Franks pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and robbery in an appearance before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Berosh said Franks robbed the first Dollar General store on Frankstown Road in Penn Hills around 8:30 p.m. She said the store was crowded at the time of the robbery, during which Franks brandished a handgun and told the three employees working registers to hand over cash. He also stole several packs of cigarettes.

Surveillance video captured the incident and showed the suspect’s clothing, mask and mirrored sunglasses, Berosh said.

About an hour later, a shopper called 911 to report a robbery at the Family Dollar in East Hills. In that incident, Berosh said the suspect later identified as Franks demanded money and got $150 from one employee’s register before telling employees to open the store’s safe.

As Franks waited for the safe to be opened, a bell on the store’s entrance door signaled that someone had entered and three responding law enforcement officers — two sheriff’s deputies and a Pittsburgh officer — told the suspect to put down his weapon and show his hands.

“The defendant shot first at the police, and then the defendant ran to the back of the store,” Berosh said.

Franks fired on the officers again before being wounded. Officers handcuffed the wounded Franks and put a tourniquet on his leg to control the bleeding. He had been struck in both legs and the left arm. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in critical condition, authorities said.

Investigators said they recovered three shell casings that they say Franks fired from a .40-caliber handgun. They said they also found crack cocaine on him.

No officers were injured.

William Difenderfer told Rangos at Monday’s sentencing hearing that Franks immediately took responsibility for his actions.

“He was high as a kite,” Difenderfer said, explaining one reason behind his client’s actions. “It’s two miracles — he’s not dead, and no one else was hurt.”

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