A police officer in Bensalem shot a man who ran after crashing his motorcycle during a pursuit on Saturday, Director of Public Safety William McVey of the Bensalem Police Department said at a press conference.
At this time, the man is in “guarded condition” at the hospital following surgery, McVey said.
The incident began at around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, when police received a call of a motorist dispute going northbound on Route 13 near Woodhaven Road, McVey said.
The dispute involved a vehicle and a motorcycle, with the people in the vehicle telling 911 operators that the motorcyclist pulled out a handgun and threatened them, McVey said.
A few moments later, an officer vehicle spotted and went toward the dispute now moving in the area of Route 13 and Park Avenue, McVey said.
When approached, the motorcyclist slid and struck the police vehicle as it stopped, McVey said, causing the suspect to then try to flee on foot.
According to McVey, the officer began chasing the armed suspect on foot, with the officer having to use deadly force when the suspect, who was carrying a handgun in his right hand, slightly turned toward him.
First aid was immediately rendered and the suspect was taken to the hospital, where he is in guarded condition, McVey said.
The officer gave multiple commands for the fleeing suspect to show both hands before the shooting, McVey said.
The people in the car and the police officer involved were not injured, McVey said.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation into the officer’s use of force, McVey said.
CORRECTION: This article was corrected to say the man was in “guarded condition,” not stable condition.