DA: Officers were justified in shooting, killing man in Washington County
WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- Officers will not be charged after shooting and killing a man during a chase last month in Washington County.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said based on the evidence that was reviewed, the officers were justified in shooting 38-year-old Eduardo Lee Hoover Jr.
Walsh said in early April, Hoover pulled out of his driveway in Burgettstown and nearly hit two children. Officers eventually caught up with him and he led officers on a high-speed chase through Burgettstown and into the city of Washington, where Hoover got stuck in traffic.
Police managed to maneuver their cruisers so they blocked his truck from the front, rear and driver's side. They ordered Hoover to get out of his truck. Instead, Walsh said Hoover threw his truck into reverse and slammed into the police car behind him that still had an officer inside.
Police fired two shots into Hoover's engine. They say he then drove forward and snapped a telephone pole and threw his truck into reverse again. That's when officers fired two rounds, hitting Hoover in his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Mr. Hoover's actions endangered the lives of countless citizens of this county as well as law enforcement as he led officers on a high-speed pursuit and then wielded his approximately 5,000 pound Dodge Ram truck as a weapon as he attempted to strike the officers and their vehicles while ignoring multiple commands to exit the vehicle," said Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh at a press conference Friday.
The district attorney's office said Hoover had multiple outstanding charges against him before his encounter with police that day.
The officers involved in the shooting remain off the job but they hope to return soon.
