Armed Man Shot By Police In Wilkinsburg

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WILKINSBURG (KDKA) -- Police were dispatched to a residence in Wilkinsburg early Sunday morning for reports of a burglary and a gunshot being fired.

It happened just after 3:15 a.m. in the 1800 block of Clark Street.

According to a criminal complaint, an unnamed witness called 911 just after 3:15 a.m. to report a burglary and home invasion in progress at a home in the 1800 block of Clark Street.

The witness said that a man nicknamed "Rays" -- who police identified as 32-year-old Randall Hockett, of Wilkinsburg -- was trying to break in the front door.

The 911 dispatcher told the witness to go into the basement. A few minutes later, the witness reported hearing one gunshot, the sound of glass breaking and footsteps upstairs.

A neighbor said she heard and saw Hockett screaming at the witness.

"When I move my curtain, I see him over there kicking on the door. He's like, 'Just gimmie my stuff and I'll leave,'" Mi-Jette Sirmons said. "She wouldn't open up the door, and then he shot his gun."

Sirmons says Hockett's first shot was in the air. The next one wasn't.

"He went from kicking on the door, he shot the window out," she said. "Then he took and broke the glass with a gun, cleaned it all out and went inside."

Officers arrived on the scene shortly. After they arrived, they reported that gunshots had been fired at police, and officers had Hockett at gunpoint.

"He darts out the back, and they just start shooting, pow pow pow pow," Sirmons said.

Hockett sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery. He was last reported to be in stable condition.

The witness later told police that he or she had been arguing with Hockett earlier and told him to leave the residence. Hockett left, but then returned two more times after that. The witness called 911 the second time Hockett returned.

The criminal complaint says a total of ten bullet casings were found at the scene and a projectile was found in the wall in the living room.

The witness was not harmed.

Hockett will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of criminal attempted homicide, burglary, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, and discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure.

Allegheny County Police Homicide detectives are investigating but anyone with any information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tipline at 1-833-255-8477; callers can remain anonymous.

Allegheny County Police Homicide detectives are investigating.