Officials Release More Details On Fatal Police-involved Shooting In Drexel Hill
By Syma Chowdhry
DREXEL HILL, Pa. (CBS) – Investigators have released more information on a police-involved shooting that left a man dead in Drexel Hill on Monday.
"You want to bring me down? I will [expletive] kill you and your whole [expletive] family, so go ahead and [expletive] with me."
Police say Joe Pacini made threats to law enforcement officials on YouTube Monday evening.
This after Haverford police were called to an LA Fitness after employees said he was acting unruly.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood says that incident prompted the rants.
"After he went on his tirade about killing the cop and killing his family then it became an issue," said Superintendent Chitwood.
Pacini had a previously been arrested in 2005 and had a history of mental illness.
By Tuesday police had an arrest warrant for Pacini for making the online threats.
When police showed up to his Clifton Heights apartment he got around them and started driving towards Drexel Hill.
That's when officers from Clifton Heights, Haverford Township and Upper Darby followed Pacini to Garrett Road and Shadeland Avenue and boxed him in.
Police say Pacini reversed his car hitting the Clifton Heights police chief's cruiser and narrowly missing several officers.
Although he was unarmed police say his car was a weapon in this case.
"A 4,000 pound vehicle. It's kind of difficult and he is bent on either killing you or having you kill him," said Chitwood.
Police fired around 22 times hitting Pacini at least three times.
Pacini's mother didn't want to talk to media, but the Delaware County District Attorney's Office spoke with the family.
"It's hard around the holidays. It's hard anytime and mom and the family very upset," said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan.
The District Attorney is now investigating and awaiting a report from the coroner's office.
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