EAST HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Two Pennsylvania State Troopers shot an armed suspect in East Huntingdon Township late Sunday night, the agency announced Monday morning.
A state police spokesperson says two troopers responded to 232 Cedar Drive after the homeowner called to report hearing gunshots that possibly broke a window. The homeowner also thought they found a bullet fragment in the home.
PHOTOS: East Huntingdon home surrounded by crime scene tape while police investigate officer-involved shooting
While troopers were canvassing the area near where the shots were reportedly fired, the spokesperson said knocked at the door of a home near a vehicle with bullet holes. Upon looking into the home they encountered Jim Miller Jr., who was holding an assault rifle.
The spokesperson said troopers gave verbal commands for Miller to drop the weapon when he came outside of his home, but instead, he fired it. Troopers then engaged in the gunfire.
Miller was shot in the torso by more than one round and was taken to a hospital for treatment. No one else was hurt.
Gregg Thompson with J-N-S Towing, just up the road from Miller’s home, said he wasn’t surprised by this happening.
“The neighbors and us all figured something would happen down there,” Thompson told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek.
He said Miller started shooting his gun much earlier in the day around 7 a.m.
“Just random shooting. Harassing the neighbors,” Thompson said. “He just, I don’t know. He’s a big bully. That’s what we call him, the bully of the neighborhood.”
Troopers spent much of the day Monday in area gathering evidence. The two troopers who fired their guns are on administrative leave.
“This situation for law enforcement is the worst situation you ever want to be put in. The last thing you ever want to do is pull out a weapon and ultimately discharge it because the person is refusing to comply with requests,” said Trooper Steve Limani.
Although Miller’s condition is unknown at this time, police say they’re hopeful he will recover.
“So, we’re hoping Mr. Miller recovers from what took place. Obviously, he’s going to have to face the responsibility of his actions,” Limani said. “It was a tough position for these two troopers to be put in. Luckily they weren’t hurt and there were no other innocent people who could have been associated, or people just driving by right? None of those people were injured.”
Limani said state police are working with the DA’s office to bring charges against Miller. Those charges could be aggravated assault, if not something more.
Currently, police are unsure why Miller was shooting or what he was shooting at. He said the neighbors didn’t think he would have a reason to shoot toward their home specifically.
Thompson said he’s glad no one else was hurt.
“I am very thankful that nobody, that the neighbors didn’t get shot up,” he said. “You know, when you’re firing a firearm, you’ve got to be responsible.”
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