off-duty-PA-cops-shoots-man-at-bar-after-drinking-10-beers.jpg

An off-duty Pa. police officer is accused of shooting an off-duty prison guard -- all this after the off-duty cop allegedly downed 10 beers at a bar where the fight between the two broke out, then spilled into the streets.

(File)

In Allegheny County, Pa., two off-duty law enforcement officials found themselves on the opposite sides of a late-night shooting that began as an argument in a bar.

According to KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, an off-duty Aliquippa officer is accused of shooting a guard from the Allegheny County Jail around 3 a.m. last Thursday - all this after the off-duty police officer allegedly had 10 beers at the bar.

The argument between police officer Joshua Gonzalez, 24, and prison guard Kevin Miller began at the Milestone Bar in Brentwood and then spilled into the Carrick neighborhood, KDKA reports, adding:

Responding officers found Kevin Miller suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach on Stewart Avenue. When they asked if he knew who shot him, he replied: "he said he was a cop...a cop." Miller was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital and placed in the ICU with damage to his liver and colon. He is now listed in stable condition.

Meanwhile, after initially leaving the scene, Gonzalez approached responding officers and identified himself as the shooter. He told police he acted to break up several fights at the bar that involved his girlfriend, and he admitted to having drank 10 beers. He claimed the fight that ended in the shooting began as his group was leaving the bar.

Gonzalez says that during the fight, he saw Miller "pulling up his shirt and reaching into his waistband," which made him feel that his life was in danger. He fired one round from his personally-owned weapon, KDKA reports, adding:

Miller, a nine-year-veteran of the county jail, has denied making any threatening movements and does not own a gun.

Gonzalez, who has been on the Aliquippa police force for five months, is charged with aggravated assault.

Read more of the latest Pa. buzz: