A suspect who allegedly shot an officer in the neck and chest three times Sunday is being pursued by police in Allegheny, Pa.
Koby Lee Francis was being transported after an earlier arrest for violating a protection from abuse order. Per the order, Francis was not allowed to see his young son or the woman who filed the order, nor was he allowed to possess any weapons, Fox News reported.
Police said they searched Francis for weapons when he was arrested, seizing one gun. However, officers apparently missed a firearm because Francis was able to shoot at the officer while he was being taken to the police cruiser in handcuffs outside of the McKeesport police station, authorities said.
“When he got out of the car, he had a second gun that we didn’t locate on him and he fired on our officer multiple times, hitting our officer at least two times,” Adam Alfer, the McKeesport police chief, said.
According to Fox News, police issued a statement that Francis was caught on camera running from the scene of the shooting. The suspect was still in handcuffs as of 4:18 p.m. Sunday.
Early Monday, Allegheny police continued their search for Francis. The 22-year-old will be charged with criminal attempt (homicide), escape, flight to avoid apprehension, aggravated assault and violation of the Uniform Firearms Act.
Police described Francis as a Black male around 6’2” tall. He was last identified wearing a black hoodie and camouflage pants. He is considered armed and dangerous.
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office posted the man’s mugshot on social media, tweeting, “Police throughout Allegheny County looking for this man, 22-year-old Koby Lee Francis of McKeesport, in connection with the shooting of a McKeesport police officer outside of the McKeesport police station late this afternoon. If you have any info, call 911 immediately!”
The injured officer was a 32-year-old with four year experience on the force who was reportedly saved by his bulletproof vest.
According to CBS Pittsburg, Allegheny County Police are leading the investigation and have set up checkpoints at the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.
Francis has been arrested by Allegheny police on multiple occasions, including once in 2017 and again in 2018, CBS Pittsburg reported.
