Shooter In Custody After Police Shooting In Monaca
MONACA (KDKA) -- A police officer in Monaca continues to recover after he was apparently shot by a robbery suspect.
Officer Alan Shaffer and 19-year-old Damontae Williams, of Aliquippa, got into a running gun battle in an alley adjacent to the CoGo's in the 1400-block of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Kevin Kerr owns Flesh Mechanics, a tattoo shop next to the gas station.
"We were inside the building and we heard some pops and one of my customers was walking over to the CoGo's next door to get some money out of the MAC machine and he came running back in like 10 seconds later saying there was shooting going on behind the CoGo's," Kerr said.
KDKA's Ralph Iannotti reports:
Police say Williams was armed with a revolver and a semi-automatic. Both weapons were loaded.
"The suspect at some point turned and fired on the officer," State Police Lt. Eric Hermick said. "By all accounts, he fired on the officer first and struck the officer in his lower torso. The officer returned fire until which time the suspect surrendered."
Several witnesses say Williams fired at Shaffer three times before Shaffer fired back. The suspect was not wounded.
Police found the getaway vehicle on Ann Street in Aliquippa.
According to investigators, Williams had just robbed the Cricket store in the Walmart Plaza in Center Township before the shootout with Officer Shaffer.
KDKA's Heather Abraham reports:
State police tell KDKA's Heather Abraham the person who had been driving the getaway vehicle was taken into police custody Wednesday night, and was being cooperative as a witness.
State Police also say that the driver never entered the Cricket store, and was merely the driver. Police have not released his name, and he is not facing charges at this time.
Williams faces charges of robbery, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons violations.
Officer Shaffer was treated and released from a local hospital.
Stay with KDKA for the latest developments.
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