Police ask public's help to find man accused of shooting McKeesport officer outside station

Investigators are seeking the public’s help in finding a man who they say shot a McKeesport police officer outside the station Sunday afternoon.

Police said they had taken Koby Lee Francis, 22, of McKeesport into custody after he was accused of violating a protection from abuse order. That’s when police said Francis shot an officer.

The 32-year-old officer was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds, according to Allegheny County police.

The officer, a four-year veteran of the department whose name was not released, is in stable condition, according to authorities.

Authorities said Francis went to the police station at 2:55 p.m. and left a short time later after being served with the PFA order.

At 3:59 p.m., an officer was dispatched to 1505 Yester Square and found Francis sitting in a vehicle outside — a violation of the PFA.

The officer took Francis into custody at 4:04 p.m. and confiscated a firearm from the vehicle, police said.

Francis was combative as the officer took him into custody and kicked out a window of the vehicle while being driven back to the police station.

When the officer opened the vehicle door at the police station to remove the suspect, Francis pulled out a second handgun he had and shot the officer three times, striking him in the neck and torso, police said.

At 4:18 p.m., the officer went on air and said that he had been shot. Video surveillance show Francis fleeing on foot while still wearing handcuffs.

Investigators noted that Francis had been handcuffed with his arms behind him. But the video of him fleeing shows the handcuffs in front.

Francis faces charges of attempted homicide, escape, flight to avoid apprehension, aggravated assault and firearms violations.

The suspect is described as Black, 6 feet 2 inches tall with a thin build. He has black hair and dark eyes and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, camouflage pants and black shoes with white soles.

He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Francis is asked to call 911.