Authorities say one of two police officers responding to reports of a domestic dispute in Canonsburg has died

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A police officer has been killed and another wounded in a shooting in western Pennsylvania.

The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call in Canonsburg, 20 miles south-west of Pittsburgh, at about 3.15am on Thursday.

State police trooper Melinda Bondarenka said the officers were “ambushed upon their arrival” at the scene and immediately shot. They were taken to hospital, where Canonsburg officer Scott Leslie Bashioum, age 52, died. The other officer, who has not been identified, is in fair condition, according to a hospital spokesman.

Authorities say the suspect, Michael Cwiklinski, is dead. Cwiklinski, 47, and an unidentified woman were found dead in a house down the street from where the ambush. Police have not released details about the initial domestic disturbance call but have said that there was an active protection from abuse order involved, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune.

“It is my sad duty to announce that one officer is deceased and the other officer has been flown to a Pittsburgh hospital,” Warco told reporters. “Obviously, it’s very sketchy at this point it’s still an active scene and search of the shooter.”

Local residents were advised to stay indoors while authorities searched for the gunman.

“When it first started, one was bleeding badly. The shooter had everyone pinned down when they were trying to get him. I don’t know where he was shot,” a firefighter said about the incident.

Christine D'Antonio (@Cdantoniopgh) Pics of police with guns drawn in cannonsburg after two police officers shot. Suspect still at large pic.twitter.com/cNQWZvkIN3

Steven Fisher (@WPXISteveFisher) BREAKING: One of the officers shot this morning was rushed here to Canonsburg Hospital. #wpxi is on the scene hoping to get an update. pic.twitter.com/TqiY7Y4Fxa

The Canon-McMillan school district cancelled classes on Thursday because of the heavy police presence, and the nearby Chartiers-Houston school district was operating on a two-hour delay.

Associated Press contributed to this report

