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Three officers die in US shooting | Three officers die in US shooting |
(30 minutes later) | |
Three police officers have been killed by a gunman in Pittsburgh - the second mass shooting in the US in 24 hours. | Three police officers have been killed by a gunman in Pittsburgh - the second mass shooting in the US in 24 hours. |
The officers were responding to an emergency call from the house of the gunman, named as Richard Poplawski, 23. | The officers were responding to an emergency call from the house of the gunman, named as Richard Poplawski, 23. |
Police said he was waiting, armed with rifles and a bulletproof vest. He shot two officers as they entered the house, and a third who tried to help them. | Police said he was waiting, armed with rifles and a bulletproof vest. He shot two officers as they entered the house, and a third who tried to help them. |
He then traded gunfire with police for four hours before being injured and giving himself up. | He then traded gunfire with police for four hours before being injured and giving himself up. |
His friends said he had recently lost his job, and was worried that US President Barack Obama was about to ban guns. | His friends said he had recently lost his job, and was worried that US President Barack Obama was about to ban guns. |
The shooting comes a day after a gunman killed 13 people in New York state. | The shooting comes a day after a gunman killed 13 people in New York state. |
'Lying in wait' | 'Lying in wait' |
In a televised press conference, Pittsburgh police chief Nathan Harper said it was a "very sad day" for the city. | In a televised press conference, Pittsburgh police chief Nathan Harper said it was a "very sad day" for the city. |
WEEK OF SHOOTINGS Sat 4 April: Gunman kills three policemen in Pittsburgh before being wounded and capturedFri 3 April: Gunman kills 13 people at an immigration centre in Binghamton, New York state, then apparently shoots himselfSun 29 March: Gunman kills seven elderly residents and a nurse at a nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina, then is shot and wounded himselfSun 29 March: Man kills five relatives and himself in Santa Clara, California | WEEK OF SHOOTINGS Sat 4 April: Gunman kills three policemen in Pittsburgh before being wounded and capturedFri 3 April: Gunman kills 13 people at an immigration centre in Binghamton, New York state, then apparently shoots himselfSun 29 March: Gunman kills seven elderly residents and a nurse at a nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina, then is shot and wounded himselfSun 29 March: Man kills five relatives and himself in Santa Clara, California |
"Our hearts and our prayers go out to the officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said. | "Our hearts and our prayers go out to the officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said. |
Mr Poplawski was armed with two rifles, a pistol and a lot of ammunition, the authorities said. | Mr Poplawski was armed with two rifles, a pistol and a lot of ammunition, the authorities said. |
Mr Harper said the emergency call had been made by the gunman's mother, who had apparently stayed in the basement of the house during the whole incident. | Mr Harper said the emergency call had been made by the gunman's mother, who had apparently stayed in the basement of the house during the whole incident. |
He said the gunman had been "lying in wait", and the first two officers who reached the house were shot in the head as they entered. | He said the gunman had been "lying in wait", and the first two officers who reached the house were shot in the head as they entered. |
'Stockpiled food and guns' | |
Witnesses described how the officers who arrived after the shooting could not reach their stricken colleagues. | |
One neighbour, Don Sand, told the Associated Press: "They couldn't get the scene secure enough to get to them. They were just lying there bleeding. | |
"By the time they secured the scene enough to get to them it was way too late." | |
Edward Perkovic, who said he was close to Mr Poplawski, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette how his friend had called him on his mobile phone during the incident, saying he had been shot in the leg and the chest. | |
Mr Perkovic said Mr Poplawski told him: "Eddie, I'm going to die today. Tell your family and friends I love them. This is probably the end." | |
Then there was a burst of gunfire and the call ended, Mr Perkovic said. | |
Another man who said he was a friend of Mr Poplawski, Aaron Vire, told the newspaper: "He said he'll be ready if there's ever an invasion of the United States and that he had stockpiled foods and guns for that eventuality." | |
Mr Poplawski has been charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation. | Mr Poplawski has been charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation. |