Police: Penn Hills officer fatally shoots man who fired gun

A Penn Hills police officer shot and killed a man as police pursued suspects in a homicide Sunday night, according to Allegheny County Police.

According to county police, the Penn Hills officer returned fire after the man, who had been hiding in a basement, shot at and charged the officer.

County police did not release the names of the officer or the deceased man.

The sequence of events began shortly before 9 p.m. when police and paramedics went to the Sharon Court apartment complex at Frankstown Road and Graham Boulevard in response to 911 calls about a shooting, county police said.

A 30-year-old man found in the driver’s seat of a car in the parking lot of the apartment complex had been shot in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Neighbors told police the parking lot has been known for drug activity. However, county police said a motive for the shooting was not clear.

Witnesses said two young black men, possibly wearing red clothing, fled the area toward a residence in the 9200 block of Frankstown Road immediately after the shooting.

Police approached the residence and made contact with a woman who said four young men were inside her home.

At the request of officers, the woman told them all to come out; two of the four did. Officers called for the other two, but only one came out, police said.

The men said the fourth was hiding in the house.

The woman gave officers permission to search for the fourth man. Officers found him hiding in the basement.

“The male was given commands by one officer but refused to comply,” county police said in a news release. “The subject then fired a weapon at the officer before charging at the officer. The officer returned fire, striking the male at least twice.”

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to county police, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office was notified.