Over 65 local officers on leave after hours-long shootout ends with suspect’s death

PITTSBURGH — Over 65 local officers will be off the job after Thursday’s hours-long standoff in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood that ended with a suspect’s death.

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus told Channel 11 that William Hardison Sr. was pronounced dead at 5:08 p.m., nearly seven hours after the shootout started.

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE ⇒

Pittsburgh police, the bomb squad, Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and SWAT all responded to the scene, where Hardison allegedly opened fire when sheriff’s deputies arrived to serve an eviction notice.

Neighbors told Channel 11 Hardison was a squatter at the home, which was originally owned by his brother.

It was a harrowing day for the neighborhood as hundreds of shots were fired. Many residents had to be evacuated.

The aftermath of the shootout was seen by a Channel 11 crew the next morning, as many vehicles in the neighborhood remained parked in the streets riddled with bullets and their windows blown out.

Click here for everything we’ve learned about Hardison so far.

State police are handling the investigation.

>>> Law enforcement officials react to active shooting situation in Garfield

On Thursday, a Pittsburgh Public Safety official told Channel 11 that about 40 Pittsburgh police officers are on paid leave as protocol. The officers had to turn in the weapons that were fired. They will have to see a psychologist and then give an interview to return to the job. They are expected to be off the job for about a week.

About a dozen Allegheny County police officers are on leave and will return to duty at the discretion of the superintendent, officials told Channel 11.

Sixteen Allegheny County Sheriff’s Deputies fired shots and are on paid leave. They must also undergo a psychiatric evaluation before returning to work.

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