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Police: Fatal Cop Shooting Suspect Fired 3 Rounds From Close Range With Rifle

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - State Police in Greensburg confirmed they were called back to the Westmoreland County home on Monday night where a St. Clair Township police officer was shot and killed over the weekend.

Officials said they were called back to the house for a "medical issue," but were not releasing many other details.

It's not clear if state police returned to the home because that's where the suspect's girlfriend lived. It's unknown if the call involved his girlfriend or someone else who was apparently threatening suicide.

St. Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Reed was called to the Ligonier Street house in New Florence on Saturday night because of a domestic violence incident.

In a dramatic 911 audio tape of the incident, recorded by RadioReference.com, Officer Reed can be heard saying he was going to wait for backup, which was about six minutes away.

Not long after, a 911 dispatcher says, "490's down, all available units respond to Ligonier Street." The reference to "490" was Officer Reed's radio ID.

 

The suspect, 31-year-old Ray Shetler is now charged with murder in Officer Reed's death.

As Shetler disappeared into the darkness after Reed was shot, his girlfriend can be overheard on the police radio, saying hysterically, "An officer is shot, please help. Oh my God, are you okay? Please breathe."

During a press conference Monday morning, investigators detailed the fatal series of events. Officer Reed passed away from his injuries at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown.

Emergency dispatchers reportedly heard much of what was going on inside the house prior to Officer Reed's arrival.

They overheard the woman tell Shetler that police were on the way. He said he didn't care and threatened to kill her and then himself.

Shortly after, smoke began to fill the home.

Then, Officer Reed arrived and the confrontation began. Officer Reed was the first on the scene.

"Officer Reed confronted our actor, Mr. Shetler outside the home. At that point in time, Mr. Shetler was armed with a long rifle. Subsequently, we found out it was .270-caliber rifle. Officer Reed demanded several times that Mr. Shetler put down the firearm. Drop the weapon, drop the weapon. Mr. Shetler engaged him in a verbal argument and advanced toward Officer Reed. At that point in time, there was gunfire exchanged between the two. Officer Reed was struck in the chest area. Mr. Shetler took off on foot, he still had his long rifle," Trooper Steve Limani, of Pennsylvania State Police, said.

 

Officer Reed was wearing a ballistic vest. However, Shetler fired three rounds from a high-powered hunting rifle at close range.

Two officers are believed to have fired seven shots at Shetler.

The woman in the home went to assist Officer Reed, while he radioed that he had been hit.

"I truly cannot say enough good about Officer Reed. He really was a kind, gentle person and I think that he died the way that he lived, trying to help," St. Clair Township Police Capt. Donald Hess said.

Shetler was arrested after a six-hour manhunt. He is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck says it's premature to describe the crime as a death penalty case.

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