Police: Man Killed By Trooper Refused To Drop Assault Rifle
SOUTH GREENSBURG (KDKA) - Authorities say a state trooper shot and killed a man who refused to drop his weapon during a carjacking attempt Monday night in Westmoreland County.
Troopers say the man was carrying an assault rifle and pointed the gun at a woman who was in the car.
The incident began when 28-year-old Edward Gorinski violated a protection from abuse order.
Gorinski had just gotten out of the Westmoreland County Jail for a previous violation of the same PFA. For unknown reasons, he decided to call that person again.
Troopers said he made the call at a South Greensburg home near the 1400 block of Broad Street around 8 p.m. Monday.
"It was an acquaintance of his, so he went to that residence. They were not there, he broke into that residence. While he was inside that residence, he made the phone calls and took what appears to be an assault rifle, which is actually a .22-caliber firearm," Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Limani said.
When the trooper from the Greensburg barracks arrived, Gorinski ran. Police said a 39-year-old woman who was driving down the street in an SUV saw the police lights, slowed down and opened her door.
That's when Gorinski pointed the gun at her and told her to get out.
"Coming from a foot pursuit about 20 yards away, taking aim at Mr. Gorinski, giving verbal commands and after a couple verbal commands that the trooper gave, he made a split-second decision that this woman's life is in jeopardy," Trooper Limani said.
The trooper fired three shots at Gorinski, which killed him. Businesses in the area were put on high alert.
"The police did make our customers stay for a very long time. Some because their cars were in a crime scene area, some because they wanted to talk to. I did have a friend come in he said his wife was in the car. I believe she was the woman that was carjacked," Degennaro's bartender Vonni Miller said.
The woman in the vehicle and the trooper were not injured.
The trooper is now on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in a case like this.
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