COPS UNDER FIRE
SHOTS FIRED AT OFFICERS DURING BARRICADE SITUATION IN CHESTER
» A 25-year-old city man, who apparently turned a gun on himself after firing shots at a police officer arriving on the scene of a reported domestic disturbance Tuesday morning, was in grave condition at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
After allegedly firing shots at the officer, Shaquann Smith retreated into a Highland Avenue apartment where he barricaded himself with his girlfriend and a 1-yearold child. The officer, the woman and the child were unharmed. Chester Police Chief James Nolan cited “terrific trigger discipline” by police during the ordeal in the 600 block of Highland Avenue, which lasted about 15 minutes.
Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, too, lauded the restraint of police officers at the scene.
“This could have been real bad, real fast,” Kirkland said. “Because of training and their commitment to protect and serve, they were able to get the situation under control. No police officers or other citizens were hurt in the process.”
Both Nolan and Kirkland spoke at an afternoon press conference at police headquarters, where they were joined by Police Commissioner Otis Blair, Major Steven Gretsky and City Councilman Al Jacobs.
According to Nolan, police were dispatched to a report of a man beating up a woman outside a car on Sixth Street at 11:28 a.m. At 11:31, the call was upgraded to a report of shots fired.
A city patrolman who was the first to arrive was exiting his marked vehicle when Smith “immediately” opened fire, Nolan said, noting the officer and less than 12 feet away when the numerous shots rang out.
Nolan said police are still investigating aspects regarding the incident including at what point the woman was able to run from the street into the apartment.
“They arrived in the car together and had a fight,” Nolan said. “We received a number of 911 calls.”
After Smith fired at the officer and missed, he ran toward the apartment. The officer followed and they had a physical confrontation at the door, but Smith was able to enter the apartment and hold the door shut.
At that point, as many as 20 police officers from city and neighboring departments responded and began to surround the building for a “barricaded subject,” Nolan said.
At 11:39 a.m., according to Nolan, officers heard a gunshot fired from inside the apartment building and at that point, began to follow “active shooter protocol.”
Police entered the apartment, Nolan said.
According to Nolan, the 21-year-old girlfriend engaged police at the door.
“She blurted, ‘He shot himself,’” Nolan said.
Smith was found on the first floor suffering from what police believe was a self-inflicted wound to the head.
Nolan did not know where the baby was located in the apartment, only that the baby was not harmed.
The recovered gun, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson M&P piston, was later determined to have been reported stolen from Delaware.
According to Nolan, investigators have nothing to indicate that Smith’s wound was anything other than self-inflicted, as police closed in.
“Evidence leads us to believe the wound was selfinflicted, but we will follow through with the investigation,” he said.
Last month, Pennsylvania State Police were looking to arrest Smith for illegally attempting to purchase a firearm at Targetmaster on the afternoon of March 1. Smith was denied the purchase after a Pennsylvania Instant Check System search was performed. State police indicated in a press release that Smith is prohibited from purchasing a firearm but did not disclose why. When troopers responded to Targetmaster, Smith fled on foot. At the time, state police indicated there was an active warrant for Smith for an aggravated assault offense in Northumberland County.
Nolan described Smith’s criminal history as extensive.