Man Shot After Leading State Police On Chase, Dragging Trooper
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – One man is in the hospital after police shot him during a chase in Fayette County overnight.
State Police in Uniontown say it was shortly after midnight when troopers tried to pull over a truck driven by 32-year-old Oscar Stokes in South Union Township.
State police say they were trying to stop Stokes for a minor traffic violation when he led them on a brief chase in a pickup truck.
The pursuit ended on Warden Street when Stokes lost control of his pickup and spun out on the ice. That's when one of troopers approached the vehicle with his weapon drawn, authorities said.
"He was attempting to get the actor out of the vehicle," said Trooper Stefani Plume, of Pennsylvania State Police. "The actor proceeded to attempt to continue on in his vehicle, at which point one of the troopers was drug alongside of the vehicle. It was at that point that the trooper fired two rounds into the vehicle."
A trooper, who had gotten into the pickup from the passenger side, jumped out and fired several rounds, officials said. But it's believed that Stokes had a single gunshot wound in the arm.
Several neighbors remembered hearing at least five shots, dangerously close to their homes.
"Immediately shut off my kitchen light because I was afraid a stray bullet would come through my kitchen window," said one neighbor.
"I just turned the lights out," added Sal Mercadante, another neighbor. "I didn't stick my head out the window; I didn't want something stray coming in the house and hitting me."
Stokes managed to drive away, but authorities caught up with him a few hours later at Uniontown Hospital.
"Later on that early morning, he actually showed up at the hospital with a gunshot wound. It was confirmed that it was him and that he was involved in the shooting," said Trooper Plume.
One of the troopers was hurt, but he is expected to fully recover.
The officers' names have not been released, and they are now on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Fayette County District Attorney's Office.
Stokes was transferred from Uniontown Hospital to UPMC Presbyterian where he's listed in stable condition.
He'll be charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, fleeing and eluding a police officer, marijuana possession and other minor traffic violations.
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