Officers fatally shoot man in Cranberry Township after weapons and concerning notes prompt massive search, police say
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) -- Officers shot and killed a man who they said had weapons and concerning notes inside his vehicle, prompting a massive search and shelter-in-place order for all Cranberry Township residents on Tuesday afternoon.
The police chief said Cranberry Highlands Golf Course employees called after they saw a broken down car with weapons inside and a man who wasn't quite coherent on Turfgrass Drive off of Freshcorn Road, which is a private road.
"Our officers arrived there a short time later. The vehicle was unoccupied and there were weapons in the vehicle," Cranberry Township Police Chief Kevin Meyer said Tuesday evening. "As they were going through the vehicle and securing the contents and getting ready to tow, they found some concerning notes inside the vehicle that led us to believe that this individual wanted to do harm to himself or others."
Police initially said 37-year-old Logan Cumberland of Ellwood City was found dead in the woods but wouldn't provide any other details. In an update on Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Police said officers found him in the wooded area near the golf course, confronted him and shot and killed him.
State Police wouldn't say if Cumberland fired at officers or aimed his gun at them. They also didn't answer how many rounds were fired or say what officers were involved. A source said an officer from Pittsburgh Police, who responded, is on administrative leave.
KDKA-TV's crew heard multiple gunshots, and neighbors told KDKA-TV's Jennifer Borrasso that they also heard gunshots.
When asked if police know what brought Cumberland to the golf course, Trooper Matthew Hosie said, "Not at this time. I understand there were those letters, which I am unable to go into what was written on those. His motive is part of the investigation."
Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Cranberry Township Police Department asked all residents to shelter in place and lock their doors as officers searched for a "suspicious person." There was a massive police presence, and officers with guns drawn were seen covering the area around the golf course, which was shut down.
The shelter-in-place was lifted around 3:30 p.m. when police said there was no longer an active threat. The man at the center of the search was found dead in the woods, but police are not saying if he was shot by officers or shot himself. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating how he died.
"We appreciate the community's support and patience as we went through this," Meyer said. "Hopefully they understand that this was a law enforcement event that required the necessary shutdowns and closures and street closures, park closures, golf closures, so everything's back open now, the community's safe."
Meyers said the man wasn't from Cranberry and was staying south of the area in a motel. Police said they also found a note at the motel. They added that they're looking into threats he may have made to a local hospital.
His vehicle was towed away from the scene.
State police will turn over its investigation to the Butler County District Attorney, who will determine if the shooting was justified.