One Officer Dead, Another Wounded After Being 'Ambushed' In Pennsylvania; Gunman Dead

One of two western Pennsylvania police officers “ambushed” and shot while responding to a domestic situation has died, authorities said Thursday. The suspect has also died, reports CBS Pittsburgh station KDKA-TV.

According to police, the incident happened around 3:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Woodcrest Drive.

Police were initially called to the area for a domestic dispute. As the two Canonsburg police officers approached the home, the suspect, Michael Cwiklinski, opened fire.

“Upon their arrival, the two officers were ambushed. They were shot with an unknown type of firearm,” Trooper Melinda Bonderanka said.

Shortly after 9 a.m., officials confirmed that Cwiklinski had died. Circumstances of his death have not been released.

“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. “I had my porch light on and he came and told us to turn the light off and stay put. Then, five minutes later, they came to the front door and asked us if we would leave ASAP.”

Both officers were taken to Canonsburg Hospital, but one was then flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

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

Sources told KDKA-TV’s Andy Sheehan that the injured officer was shot in the stomach. He is currently in intensive care.

Names of the officers have not been released.

Police advised residents in the area to stay in their homes and stay away from windows.

“It woke me from bed about 3:30, 4 o’clock this morning. I could hear what I thought was firecrackers and then I heard somebody say, ‘My partner’s down,’ or something like that. Then, all hell broke loose,” a neighbor said.

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