Man who was shot reached for gun, police say

Shooting by officer recorded on video

Video recording from Pittsburgh police officers’ body cameras clearly shows Dontay R. Green reaching for a handgun in the back of his waistband, according to county detectives investigating the Sunday evening incident in which an officer shot Green in the leg.

Green, 34, was fleeing officers who had responded about 5:30 p.m. to a report of a man being pistol-whipped in the 2400 block of Charcot Street in Arlington, police said. Green was in stable condition Monday in a hospital.

In a criminal complaint, the officers said they found the victim of the pistol-whipping in front of a home on the street, bleeding from his head. He told police that a man a few doors down had attacked him and he pointed out the attacker.

The officers approached that man, later identified as Green, and asked whether he had any weapons. Green lifted the front of his shirt — apparently to show he had no gun — and then turned, jumped off the porch and ran. As he did so, officers saw a gun in the back of his waistband, according to the criminal complaint.

The officers chased Green. As he ran, he went between two vehicles, reached to his waistband and pulled out the gun, a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol,

according to the complaint. One officer then shot Green.

Green threw down the gun and kept running. He was apprehended at the intersection of Charcot and Clover streets, according to the complaint, written by Allegheny County police Detectives Patrick Kinavey and James Grill.

Allegheny County police investigate all shootings that involve Pittsburgh police officers.

Police said Green had a small amount of crack cocaine in his possession, and during subsequent questioning, Green told police he ran from the officers because he had “coke and weed” on him.

Neither county nor city police identified the officer who shot Mr. Green. The officer has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard policy, according toAllegheny County police.

Green faces three counts of aggravated assault, one count of carrying a firearm without a license and drug charges. In 2004 and 2005, he pleaded guilty to felony counts of carrying a firearm without a license, as well as felony drug charges. He was sentenced to between 3½ and seven years in prison in the 2005 case, and between one and 3½ years in the 2004 case, records show.

Green was also charged with simple assault on Dec. 23 in a case that is still pending.

The victim of the pistol whipping declined medical services, according to county police.