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4 officers placed on leave after shooting standoff suspect in New Castle

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Four officers have been placed on leave while state police investigate their shooting of an armed man, ending a reported hostage standoff in New Castle Friday morning.

The officers said they had no choice but to open fire on 43-year-old Ivy Lanthier, who locked himself inside a house along Montgomery Avenue in Mahoning Township.

Police originally went to Lanthier's house about 9:30 p.m. Thursday after he reportedly held a man at gunpoint, ordered his family to leave and fired guns into the ceiling.

Authorities said police surrounded the home and were concerned about the weapons Lanthier had with him inside.

Lanthier was shot when he emerged from his home carrying a shotgun and pistol and fired at police. Four officers returned fire.

Police Chief Bobby Salem said his officers will be on leave until the state police investigate. It's routine for an outside agency to review officer-involved shootings.

David Yost, who witnessed the standoff, said he heard officers tell the man several times to drop his weapons.

"I heard somebody had a shotgun inside the house, and the guy was in the doorway with a gun. It looked like he had a shotgun and a pistol. Police kept telling him to drop his weapon, and he wouldn't, so they opened up on him," Yost said.

No police were hurt but Lanthier was in critical condition at a Youngstown, Ohio hospital.