ERIE, PA – An officer shot during a shootout in Erie on Sunday is recovering and the suspect has surrendered himself to police.
Early Sunday morning, at 4:50 a.m., the Erie Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the 500 block of East 22nd Street. Multiple officers were dispatched to the scene to investigate the reported shooting.
At 5:00 a.m., while officers were searching the area, a suspect opened fire on them from inside a residence. During the exchange of gunfire, a male Erie Police Department patrol sergeant was shot once in the leg. He immediately sought cover while other officers retaliated, returning fire.
The wounded sergeant received prompt attention from his fellow officers, who provided emergency medical aid on-site. He was then transported to UPMC Hamot using a police vehicle for urgent medical treatment.
The suspect, wearing ballistic armor, later emerged from the residence and surrendered to the officers present. Thankfully, the suspect was uninjured and was taken into custody by law enforcement. He was subsequently transported to the Erie Police Station for further processing.
Upon arriving at UPMC Hamot, the injured sergeant was stabilized at the hospital’s trauma unit before being taken into emergency surgery. As of the latest update, the sergeant’s condition is reported to be stable, and he is being closely monitored in UPMC Hamot’s Intensive Care Unit.
After careful consultation between the Erie Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Erie County District Attorney’s office, it has been decided that the Pennsylvania State Police will lead the shooting investigation in Lawrence Park Township.
Any individuals with pertinent information regarding this incident are urged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 814-898-1641. Authorities are actively investigating the situation and seeking the public’s cooperation to resolve the case.