Criminal Complaint Against Richard Poplawski

On April 4, 2009 at approximately 7:03am, Allegheny County 911 dispatch received a call from complainant Margaret Poplawski for a domestic incident involving her son, actor Richard Poplawski, who she wanted out of the house because he was giving her a hard time. At 7:11am, Pittsburgh Police officers Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo reported to dispatch that they had arrived on scene at the house, located at 1016 Fairfield Street, in the Stanton Heights section of the City of Pittsburgh.

Complainant Margaret Poplawski reported that she awoke early on this date to discover that the dog had urinated on the floor inside her house at 1016 Fairfield Street, at which point she awakened her twenty-two-year-old son, actor Richard Poplawski, to confront him about it. Mrs. Poplawski reported that she called 911 dispatch, and two uniformed police officers responded to her address at 1016 Fairfield Street a short time later, at which point she opened the front door of her residence and admitted them, saying "come and take his ass." Mrs. Poplawski reported that as the officers entered approximately ten feet into the residence, she heard gunshots, turned and saw her son about six feet away with a long rifle in his hands, at which point she fled downstairs after asking him "what the hell have you done?"

Mrs. Poplawski reported that she stayed in the basement for the next couple of hours, during which time she heard her son yell "Yeah, I've been shot," and "I'm standing down, come in and help me." Mrs. Poplawski reported that her son had enlisted in the U.S.M.C. a few years ago, but was discharged for assaulting his drill sergeant in basic training. Mrs. Poplawski reported that since his discharge, her son has been stockpiling guns and ammunition, buying and selling the weapons online, because he believed that as a result of economic collapse, the police were were no longer able to protect society. Mrs. Poplawski reported that her son like police when they were not curtailing his constitutional rights, which he was determined to protect.

During the course of the investigation, witness #1, a resident of the 1000 block of Fairfield Street, reported that he/she was awakened from sleep by the sound of a single gunshot, then an additional gunshot. Witness #1 looked out of his/her home window and observed a police officer down near the front stoop of 1016 Fairfield Street. Witness #1 observed a W/M wearing light-colored clothing standing in the doorway of 1016 Fairfield Street with the screen door open, who fired 2-3 more shots into the downed officer, then re-entered the residence.

Officer Timothy McManaway responded to the scene at 7:17am with other units in response to a dispatch call put out at approximately 7:16am for officers being shot at, where he observed that Officer Eric Kelly has already preceded him as backup to Officers Sciullo and Mayhle. Officer McManaway reported that Officer Kelly was lying supine near his own white SUV, as he had recently completed his night shift. Officer McManaway reported that in response to Officer Kelly raising his arm for help, he ran to his side, where he observed that Officer Kelly was wounded and complained that he could not breathe. Officer McManaway reported that he took cover near the front of the SUV to assess the threat, at which point gunfire erupted from within 1016 Faifield Street, striking the vehicle and prompting Officer McManaway to return fire as his hand was injured by a bullet or shrapnel.

Officer McManaway returned to Officer Kelly, and was able to pull him to cover behind the SUV, where he remained until they were subsequently rescued by S.W.A.T. Officer McManaway reported that he was able to see the one officer lying outside the residence near the front stoop, and it was clear that he was dead, having been shot in the head; he could not see the second officer who was later found inside.

Witness #2, also a resident of the 1000 block of Fairfield Street, reported that he/she was awakened from sleep by the sound of gunfire outside, at which point, he/she looked out of his/her home. Witness #2 saw one police (Mayhle) down near the front stoop of 1016 Fairfield Street, and saw a second police officer (Kelly) crawling on the sidewalk near a white SUV that appeared to be riddled with bullets.

Witness #2 reported seeing a third police officer (McManaway) assist the second, apparently wounded police officer to cover at the rear of the SUV, then move to the front left of the SUV. Witness #2 reported that multiple shots were then discharged at the front of the SUV from within 1016 Fairfield Street, at which point the third police officer returned fire at the residence.

Pittsburgh medics arrived on scene and transported Officer Kelly to UPMC Presbyterian University Hospital where he died of his injuries. On 4-4-09, Medical Examiner's deputies transported Officer Kelly to their office where an examination was performed by Dr. Xu. Dr. Xu determined the cause of death: gunshot wounds of trunk and lower extremities. Manner of death: homicide.

Numerous Pittsburgh Bureau of Police units subsequently responded to the scene, including members of the S.W.A.T. team, who took up positions on and around residences surrounding 1016 Fairfield Street. A lengthy standoff in excess of approximately three hours ensued, during which time the actor exchanged intermittent gunfire with police. Officers inside their S.W.A.T. vehicle reported that Richard Poplawski fired numerous gunshots at the vehicle which is bullet proof. Bullets fired by the actor struck the front windshield of both the driver and passenger sides, driver side portal, engines access panel on the driver's side and passenger side upper brush guard.

During the course of the shooting, the actor's gunfire struck 1021 Fairfield Street, which was occupied by Geraldine and Alfred Leipras. Also struck by the actor's gunfire was 1025 Fairfield Street, which was occupied by Randel Daniel and John Dubawiewicz.

Once the actor himself was wounded in the leg, police negotiators convinced Richard Poplawski to allow them entry, whereupon he was taken into custody and transported by medics to the hospital for treatment. During the course of treatment rendered at the scene, medics removed light-colored clothing from the actor. S.W.A.T. officers observed the actor wearing body armor during the shooting.

Initial officers who made entry to secure the actor and search for other victims found Officer Sciullo inside the living room of 1016 Fairfield Street, already deceased as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. These officers also secured the body of Officer Mayhle, who was found near the front stoop of the residence, also already deceased as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. These officers safely extricated Mrs. Poplawski from the home. During the course of this limited entry, S.W.A.T. team members observed numerous articles of ballistic evidence and firearms in plain view in the interior of the residence, as well as blood evidence.

Police Officers Paul Sciullo and Stephen Mayhle were pronounced deceased by Pittsburgh Medics and transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in an ambulance for examination.

On 4-4-09, Dr. Shakir performed the examination on Officer Sciullo and determined the cause of death: gunshot wounds of head and trunk. Manner of death: homicide.

On 4-4-09, Dr. Luckasevic performed the examination of Officer Mayhle and determined the cause of death: gunshot wounds of head and trunk. Manner of death: homicide.