Two Hazleton officers justifiably fired 108 rounds, killing a teen who was accused of shooting a 9-year-old boy and a police officer, Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas said Wednesday.
George T. Deeb III’s actions, which included reloading his weapon two times and firing 25 rounds at police, warranted Cpl. John Leonard and officer Shawn Conti using fatal force, Lupas said.
Leonard fired 34 rounds from a rifle and another 45 shots from his .40-caliber service pistol. Conti, who suffered a wound to his forehead after being struck by a bullet fragment, fired 29 shots from his .40-caliber service pistol.
‘It must be understood throughout this time period Mr. Deeb was given numerous orders to cease and desist which he failed to abide by, Lupas said at a press conference announcing the officers had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Authorities also outlined how Deeb, 18, initiated the Nov. 29 gunfight. First, he telephoned police, baiting them to a North Cedar Street parking lot on a dark, foggy night. Then, without warning, he opened fire on officer Keith McAlarney, the first to arrive on scene. At point-blank range Deeb fired a shot from a semi-automatic pistol through the passenger-side window of McAlarney’s cruiser.
After trying to hit Deeb with his cruiser, McAlarney hastily backed the car out of the parking lot near Harman-Geist Stadium. McAlarney was able to get away, but not before a bullet shattered a bone in his left arm.
Deeb was struck 17 times, said Luzerne County Coroner Dr. John Consalvo. A bullet that grazed Deeb’s liver, and others that struck his chest and neck, caused his lungs to fill with blood, resulting in his death, the coroner said. ‘If there was ever a suicide by cop, this was it,’ Consalvo said.
Despite the number of shots to his abdomen, chest, neck and extremities, 11 of which exited his body, Deeb continued to struggle with police even after he was lying on the ground, authorities said. It took a few officers to restrain Deeb so he could be handcuffed and placed on a stretcher, authorities said.
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WARNING: The following link contains graphic autopsy photographs of the deceased attacker from the incident described above. Keep in mind that the following link is an FBI report addressing MISINFORMATION REGARDING AMMUNITION TERMINAL PERFORMANCE as reported on a law enforcement discussion board – the account of the incident on slide 6 of the report is UNTRUE. See -
http://www.defensivecarry.com/documents/officer.pdf