Police kill gunman who injured four

MASONTOWN, Pa. — A gunman opened fire outside a crowded Pennsylvania courtroom Wednesday afternoon, shooting at police and others before an officer fired multiple shots at him, killing him.

Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said a German Township police officer shot and killed the gunman after he entered the lobby with a handgun drawn and opened fire, injuring four people. Bower declined to name the gunman, saying only that he was due in court on charges related to domestic violence.

Bower said Masontown police Sgt. R. Scott Miller first encountered the gunman and was injured when he exchanged gunfire with the shooter.

When Miller took cover, Bower said, the gunman proceeded to fire shots, injuring two men and one woman.

“In this case, as is so often the case, the German Township police officer ran toward the danger, not away. He protected over 30 to 40 people from injury or death,” Bower said.

Bower declined to say whether any of the civilian victims were related to the domestic violence allegations. He said the gunman was facing charges of strangulation, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault. He said there was a protection of abuse order against the gunman in the strangulation case.

A Fayette County 911 center supervisor confirmed the three civilian victims were taken to the Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. Amy Johns, public affairs director at the hospital, said late Wednesday they had received a 47-year-old male, a 35-year-old male and a 39-year-old female from the shooting and all were in fair condition.

Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus was at the hospital Wednesday afternoon checking on Sgt. Miller. She said he was in good condition and was being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.