A Levittown man remains in St. Mary Medical Center in stable condition after he was shot by a Morrisville Borough police officer on Saturday morning.
The man, who is in his mid-20s, was shot by a veteran officer after police allege the man backed into the arm of the officer and into his patrol car before fleeing.
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The incident was sparked after the officer ran the tag on the silver car outside the 7-Eleven at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and it came back as stolen from Bristol Township, police said. When the officer approached the vehicle, the man reversed and the officer fired in self-defense, Morrisville Chief George McClay said.
After being struck in the chest by a bullet, the man reportedly drove on Bridge Street and crashed outside Snipes Farm near Route 1 and Falls Township.
Police were able to get to the wounded man, authorities said. Medics rushed the 25-year-old to St. Mary Medical Center and the officer was taken to Aria Health’s Bucks County Campus in Falls for treatment of his arm injury.
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The man is expected to be charged this week with various offenses, McClay said.
The chief said on Saturday the silver car was left running in Bristol Township and stolen within the past week.
“This is the stuff I warn about,” the chief said following the shooting. In recent months, McClay and Falls Township police have both warned residents not to leave their running car unattended to warm up.
Credit: Twitter.com/@PattersonCBS3
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Bucks County Detectives and the District Attorney’s office are handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, as is standard procedure. When the investigation is finished, Bucks County District Attorney will send a letter to McClay that outlines if the shooting was justified.
Several officials have told LevittownNow.com the officers acted within reason. Investigators have obtained security camera footage from the 7-Eleven and police dash camera for review.
“There seems to be very little question of what happened,” Heckler said on Saturday. “The windshield camera video seems to show it.”
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McClay said the officer has recovered but remains on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. If he is cleared, the officer will have to undergo a psychological evaluation and a firearms review.
One Morrisville resident said the scene around daybreak Saturday resembled a movie due to all the police cars throughout the borough.
LevittownNow.com reporter Erich Martin contributed to this story.
