Police shoot suspect in standoff

EAST GOSHEN >> A man who fired 15 rounds at police during a tense standoff with law enforcement authorities at his East Goshen home Thursday night was shot after police returned fire.

The man, 34, has not been identified, but he is fighting for his life in critical condition at Chester County Hospital.

The incident began when Westtown-East Goshen police received a call about a man who was having a mental health crisis and had threatened to shoot his mother and sister.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, police were dispatched to a home in the 900 block of Cornwallis Drive in East Goshen at 6:15 p.m. on Feb. 11, 2021, after receiving a call about a suspect having a mental health crisis.

The man, police said, had access to firearms and had threatened to shoot his mother and sister before they fled the house and called police.

WEGO police cordoned off the area and attempted to establish communication with the suspect who was inside the residence but were unsuccessful. The West Chester Emergency Response Team (WCERT) responded to the scene and also attempted to communicate with the suspect.

While WCRERT was working to communicate with the suspect, he fired approximately 15 rounds from a handgun at WCRERT members. One round struck near where the WCRERT was standing for cover. No member of law enforcement was injured.

A WCRERT member fired two rounds, striking the suspect. WCRERT members administered first aid before he was transported to Paoli Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.

According to the Chester County DAO protocol, the Chester County Detectives, the DAO’s investigative arm, will be the independent agency reviewing this officer-involved shooting. Chester County Detectives will work with WEGO police and the WCRERT on this matter.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office will make the final decision regarding whether the shooting was justified.