Man shot, killed by Pa. State Police after chase in Indiana County
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pennsylvania State Police shot and killed a man who they say fled from a traffic stop in Indiana County.
According to state police, a trooper attempted to stop a vehicle just before midnight in the area of Yankeetown Avenue and Lockard Avenue Extension in Center Township.
Troopers say that a police chase followed the attempted traffic stop, which went on for several miles in Center Township and Homer City Borough.
Police tried to use spike strips, but the man continued to flee from troopers.
During an encounter with the man along Route 119 near Tide Road, the man was shot by a trooper or troopers. The man died at the scene. He was later identified as John Vincent Dye of Homer City.
Matthew Black says it was just before midnight when he and his wife heard sirens and saw flashing lights through the front windows of their Center Township home.
Curious as to what was going on, they inspected further and saw state police chasing a vehicle right in front of their house.
"The curiosity came to me like, 'what was wrong, what was the guy doing, why was he running?'" Black said.
No troopers were hurt during the shooting.
The incident is being investigated by the State Police Major Case Team from Troop A, the Indiana County District Attorney's Office and the Indiana County Coroner's Office
The trooper or troopers involved have been placed on administrative duties while the incident is under investigation.
Police also shot and killed a man in Westmoreland County on Sunday.
Ligonier Valley police responded to a domestic call at a home on Gravel Hill Road just before 4 p.m. Sunday. When officers got there, they encountered 59-year-old Robbie Thomas Saunders, who was armed with a machete at the front door.
According to police, Saunders aggressively approached the officers and they opened fire, hitting him once. Saunders later died at a hospital.