Man who fired at North Braddock officers sentenced to state prison

A Wilkinsburg man, who pleaded guilty to firing shots at two North Braddock police officers last year, was sentenced Monday to three to eight years in a state prison, according to court records

Dejon Howard, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and a weapons violation, said Mike Manko, spokesman for the Allegheny County district attorney’s office. The prison term will be followed by five years of probation.

Howard fired a gun on June 12 through the closed door of a vacant house in North Braddock that he did not have permission to be in, investigators said. The two officers were investigating a possible abduction when they got information about squatters at the 13th Street home. They were at a rear door when Howard allegedly shot at them, according to court papers.

One officer was hit in the body armor. A second officer was hurt by flying glass, according to court records. Neither had serious injuries.

Police captured a man who fled from the home, later identified as Howard, according to records.