Remains of 3 people found in burned East Lansdowne home; 3 family members still unaccounted for: DA
EAST LANSDOWNE, Pa. (CBS) -- The search continues Friday for the remains of three other people after a shooting and fire on Lewis Avenue in East Lansdowne, Delaware County.
The remains of three people have been recovered from the home, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Thursday.
Stollsteimer said the three remains recovered were two adults and one child.
Three other members of the Le family, who were inside when the fire consumed the home, are unaccounted for. Earlier in the day, Stollsteimer said all six family members, including three children, were presumed dead.
At a press conference Thursday, the DA described the ongoing recovery mission for the missing family members as "gruesome."
A rifle was also found in the house, Stollsteimer said.
Recovery operations were suspended for the night on Thursday due to safety concerns. Efforts will likely continue Friday once the sun comes up.
"We're a little bit afraid of the walls caving in, so we're going bring some other some other equipment out tomorrow morning to try to brace the building a little more," Stollsteimer said. "We don't people to be in there if we're afraid that they're not safe."
Authorities also identified Thursday the two police officers hurt by gunfire in the shooting and fire. The officers are Lansdowne police officer David Schiazza and East Lansdowne police officer John Meehan.
Schiazza, 54, is a 22-year veteran of the Lansdowne Police Department. He was shot in the leg and was released from a hospital Thursday afternoon.
Meehan, 44, has also been an officer for 22 years. He is still hospitalized and receiving treatment after being shot in the left arm and needing surgery.
Both officers were dragged to safety by officers from Upper Darby Township and taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center after the shooting on Wednesday night.
Videos from neighbor Derrick Richardson showed one officer holding up a ballistic shield and running to the aid of a wounded officer.
Federal, state and local lawmakers toured the neighborhood and were given an update as people tried to wrap their heads around what happened.
"You know up and down emotionally, and you all were covering it live," Dr. Monica Taylor, the chair of the Delaware County Council, said. "The community and everyone is feeling this, right? We were watching it live as it was happening and our first responders were on scene, and as you see here all levels of government are supporting them."
Prosecutors say it may never be known who the shooter was, and dental records may be the only way to identify the victims.
A woman who claims to be the mother of the shooter spoke through her family doctor to reporters about how the incident unfolded and said it began with an argument with a child.
State Sen. Tim Kearney said state officials have been in contact with the William Penn School District due to the three children among the presumed dead.
"We understand that there were three children in the house, one in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school," Kearney said. "On the state level, we've been in contact with the school district and offering to them whatever we can to help them move forward."