Again....3 Officers Killed

[MeC86]

Officers ambushed....again. This guy gave up and will stand trial....what a shame.

Prayers out to their families and brothers.





PITTSBURGH – A gunman wearing a bulletproof vest and "lying in wait" opened fire on officers responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday, killing three of them and turning a quiet Pittsburgh street into a battlefield, police said.

Police Chief Nate Harper said the motive for the shooting isn't clear, but friends said the gunman recently had been upset about losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns.

Richard Poplawski, 23, met officers at the doorway and shot two of them in the head immediately, Harper said. An officer who tried to help the two also was killed.

Poplawski, armed with an assault rifle and two other guns, then held police at bay for four hours as the fallen officers were left bleeding nearby, their colleagues unable to reach them, according to police and witnesses. More than 100 rounds were fired by the SWAT teams and Poplawski, Harper said.

The three slain officers were Eric Kelly, 41, Stephen Mayhle, 29, and Paul Sciullo III, 37. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years, Mayhle and Sciullo for two years each. Another officer, Timothy McManaway, was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.

Poplawski had gunshot wounds in his legs but was otherwise unharmed because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Harper said. He was charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation.

The shooting occurred just two weeks after four police officers were fatally shot in Oakland, Calif., in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. The officers were the first Pittsburgh city officers to die in the line of duty in 18 years.

"This is a solemn day and it's a very sad day in the city of Pittsburgh," Harper said. "We've seen this kind of violence happen in California. We never would think this kind of violence would happen in the city of Pittsburgh."

At 7 a.m., Sciullo and Mayhle responded to a 911 call from Poplawski's mother, who remained holed up in the basement during the entire dispute and escaped unharmed, Harper said.

When they arrived at the home, Sciullo was immediately shot in the head. Mayhle, who was right behind him, was also shot in the head.

"It appears he was lying in wait for the officers," Harper said.

Kelly, who was on his way home after completing his overnight shift when he heard the call for help, rushed to the scene and was killed trying to help Sciullo and Mayhle, Harper said. SWAT teams and other officers arrived and were immediately fired on as well.

Don Sand, who lives across the street from Poplawski, said he was woken up by the sound of gunfire. Hunkering down behind a wall in his home, he saw the first two officers go down and then saw Kelly get shot.

"They couldn't get the scene secure enough to get to them. They were just lying there bleeding," Sand said. "By the time they secured the scene enough to get to them it was way too late."

Deputy Chief Paul Donaldson, who lives nearby, was one of the first officers to arrive. He saw Mayhle by a bush to the right of the door; Kelly was in the street and McManaway, his hand injured, was kneeling beside him, yelling that Kelly needed help.

Donaldson suggested using a police van to get them. They draped a bulletproof vest on the window to protect the driver and several officers got into the van to get Kelly and McManaway.

During this time, Poplawski was somehow distracted, Donaldson said.

"We were fortunate that he didn't fire on us. I don't know why he was distracted, but he apparently didn't see us coming down to get them," he said. "It could have been worse."

Poplawski had feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon," said Edward Perkovic, his best friend.

Perkovic, 22, said he got a call at work from him in which he said, "Eddie, I am going to die today. ... Tell your family I love them and I love you."

Perkovic said: "I heard gunshots and he hung up. ... He sounded like he was in pain, like he got shot."

Poplawski had once tried to join the Marines, but was kicked out of boot camp after throwing a food tray at a drill sergeant, Perkovic said.

Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said Poplawski feared that President Barack Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

Vire, 23, said Poplawski once had an Internet talk show but that it wasn't successful. He said Poplawski owned an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum.

Obama has said he respects Americans' constitutional right to bear arms, but that he favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he would approve some curbs on assault and concealed weapons.

Poplawski had been laid off from his job at a glass factory earlier this year, said another friend, Joe DiMarco. DiMarco said he didn't know the name of the company, but knew his friend had been upset about it.

The last Pittsburgh police officers killed in the line of duty were Officers Thomas L. Herron and Joseph J. Grill, according to a Web site that tracks police killings. They died after their patrol car collided with another vehicle while chasing a stolen car on March 6, 1991.

In 1995, an off-duty officer was shot with his own gun after he confronted a group of teenagers about graffiti. Tests later showed the officer had been drinking.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 133 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2008, a 27 percent decrease from year before and the lowest annual total since 1960.

Poplawski had often fought with neighbors and had even gotten into fist fights with a couple, Sand said.

"This is a relatively really quiet neighborhood except for him," Sand said. "He was just one of those kids that we knew to stay clear from."

Harper confirmed police had responded to calls from the Poplawski house several times but said the incidents were still being investigated.

Rob Gift, 45, who lives a block away, said the well-kept single-family houses with manicured lawns are home to many police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other city workers.

"It's just a very quiet neighborhood," Gift said.

[Red Flag 1]

Rest In Peace Officers!

Prayers out for familys and co-workers.

[nmap]

Truly a tragedy. It's difficult to count how many lives the perp made a mess of - while doing nothing good for anyone.

Prayers for the families.

[Gypsy]

Hang the bastard.


My thoughts are with the officers families. RIP.

[CoLawman]

Rest in Peace Officers. Prayers and thoughts for the families and the officers of PPD.

[greenberetTFS]

RIP, Peace Keepers .............................

GB TFS

[echoes]

Originally Posted by MeC86

"It appears he was lying in wait for the officers," Harper said.

Kelly, who was on his way home after completing his overnight shift when he heard the call for help, rushed to the scene and was killed trying to help Sciullo and Mayhle, Harper said. SWAT teams and other officers arrived and were immediately fired on as well.

My thoughts are out to the LEO''s affected by this tragedy.

Very brave Men, indeed.

And I hope they FRY the loser who commited this cowardly act, in more ways than one!

Holly

[swpa19]

The neighborhood where this took place is a super quiet one. You never know. He admitted on local tv, that he wanted to die. Its truely a shame that he didnt. He'll be sentenced to life (because we dont want to violate his human rights and put the bastard to death). When he goes to prison, he'll have rock star status, while the families of the three officers will grieve forever.

Sciullo--2 years on the force-single

Mayhle-2 years on the force-two young children

Kelly 14 year veteran-three children

RIP Gentlemen RIP

[Firebeef]

I hope the families and brotherhood of Pittsburgh PD will be able to find peace through this craziness. We have had lots of reflection about these events at our Department.

RIP and God bless

[swpa19]

Listening to the evening news: The killer (Poplawski) of three Pittsburgh police officers made the comment today that "Pittsburgh Police needs better guns". And he wishes he could have taken out more Pittsburgh Police.

Theyre holding him in the Psych Ward of the County Jail on the 5th floor.

The coward should have done everyone a favor, and sucked on the barrel of the .357 he was carrying

[swpa19]

OFFICER SHOT VESTED POPLAWSKI "AT LEAST THREE TIMES" CHIEF SAYS

Two gunshots in the chest and one in the leg weren't enough to stop suspected gunman Richard Poplawski.
After Poplawski gunned down Officer Paul J. Sciullo, his backup, Officer Stephen J. Mayhle, drew his .40-caliber Glock and opened fire, hitting the gunman once in the leg and twice in his bulletproof vest, police Chief Nate Harper said. Investigators later found spent Glock shells scattered in the living room.
"Mayhle, after seeing Sciullo get shot and go down, he engaged in a fierce gun battle, striking (Poplawski) at least three times," Harper said. "If the actor didn't have a vest on, Mayhle (might have) saved, possibly, his (own) life."
story continues below

In an interview with the Tribune-Review on Friday, Harper for the first time described how investigators believe three Pittsburgh police officers were killed and two were injured responding to a domestic disturbance in Stanton Heights.
Sciullo and Mayhle went to the Poplawski home on Fairfield Street after his mother Margaret called 911 at 7:03 a.m. and said he'd been drinking all night and she wanted him evicted.
At 7:11 a.m., Sciullo approached the home first, with Mayhle close behind. Margaret Poplawski opened the door and when they were fewer than 10 feet into the living room, Richard Poplawski opened fire, police say.
"The first shot hit Sciullo's gun, rendering it inoperable," Harper said. "He took a second shot to the head. Then Mayhle shoots him in the leg, and hits him two times in the chest."
Backup arrives
Harper said it was then that Officer Eric G. Kelly, a 14-year veteran, pulled up outside to back up the officers. Kelly worked alongside Sciullo and Mayhle all night in the East End zone and was off duty and en route to his home just two blocks away when he decided to stop and help.
"(Poplawski) comes out on the porch, where Eric's pulling up, and he fires at the car," Harper said. "Eric's returning fire, trying to take cover. He gets hit in the hip or leg and goes down."
Wounded, Kelly managed to radio dispatchers that officers were down. Help started arriving from all over the city.
Officer Timothy McManaway was blocks away. He pulled up and saw Kelly lying beside his vehicle while Poplawski fired an AK-47 from a bedroom window. McManaway was shot in the hand as he pulled Kelly behind an SUV.
At the Zone 4 station in Squirrel Hill, officers assembling for roll call heard the calls for help. Among those who responded from that zone was Officer Brian Jones, who broke his leg scaling a fence in the backyard of the Poplawski home.
Sgt. James Kohnen Jr., the supervising officer, sent a police van with Officers Glenn Myers and Wade Sarver. The others, Officers Dan Hubert, Kathy Logue, Chris Sedlak and Jeremy Skaggs, were eager to assist.
"They said to their supervisor, 'Can we go? Should we go?' And he said, 'You better go,' " said Zone 4 Cmdr. Kathy Degler. "They all flew out the door."
As Degler and dozens of other officers arrived on scene, SWAT Officer Stephen Mescan quickly came up with an "ad hoc rescue" to reach McManaway and Kelly, who were pinned down by gunfire. Mescan and other officers covered the windows of a SWAT vehicle with bulletproof vests so officers could rescue the men.
In all, 176 officers -- on- and off-duty, and other agencies including state police, Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies, County Police and Port Authority officers -- went to the scene during the four-hour standoff, Harper said.
Among them were Officer George Kristoff, a nine-year veteran working from Zone 4, and Officer David Spinelli, a first-year training recruit riding with him.
"Jimmy (Kohnen) sent them," Degler said. "They were the closest to Tim (McManaway). They tried to cover him. Spinelli really got his share of 'welcome to our job.' "
'Exposed to tirades'
After three-and-a-half hours, Poplawski surrendered.
"Yeah, I've been shot," he told SWAT officers. "I'm standing down, come in and help me."
Kristoff and Spinelli accompanied Poplawski and the medics in the ambulance to UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland.
"They were exposed to all his tirades," Degler said. Once in the hospital, Poplawski continued his verbal assaults on two other officers, she said. "They really held their own. He tried hard to bait them into fighting."
Investigators have said Poplawski callously remarked "Oh, I thought I got that one, too," when he was told that McManaway was wounded but not killed during the gun battle.
Harper said police are piecing together other details.
Though they know Sciullo and Mayhle were wearing bulletproof vests, they don't know if Poplawski shot them with a shotgun, AK-47, or both. Police don't know where Poplawski purchased the AK-47.
"We've just been overwhelmed," Harper said. "The case, we haven't begun to review statements."