Dashcam Video Shows Officer Shoot Suspect Following Dangerous Chase

NEW CASTLE (KDKA) – Police shot a suspect following a two-county chase early Tuesday morning.

The chase was extremely dangerous.

"On numerous occasions, the officers radioed back and forth that if they encountered any traffic, they were going to terminate the pursuit," said Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa.

Suspect Shawn Hobel pulled a dramatic U-turn and police blocked him in. Hobel held a gun to the head of a female passenger.

"The female in that car became noticeably terrified and began shaking and crying," Lamancusa said.

Hobel was ordered to drop the gun and refused.

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"Mr. Hobel began shouting 'I'm going to kill her,' and he pushed the point of the gun harder against the female's head," Lamancusa said.

So a New Castle officer fired several shots through the windshield.

Another officer removed the injured suspect. The officer who fired the shots removed the terrified woman from the vehicle.

It turns out, the unidentified officer had just undergone special training on vehicle hostage rescues. While it's still under investigation, it appears to be a justified shooting.

"Some people may ask, well why didn't you wait to see what the man in the car did? You would never wait to see what the man in the car did. You would never wait to see what the person in the vehicle was going to do, when he has a gun pointed to someone else's head," Lamancusa said.

Hobel is facing a list of charges including, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, weapons violations and various traffic violations.

He was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.