Car theft suspect shot by officers in Caln Twp., Chester County after threatening to shoot, D.A.’s office says

CALN TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A suspected car thief was shot dead by police Wednesday morning in Caln Twp., Pa. after allegedly threatening to shoot officers.

It all started just before 2am on Wednesday when police received information that a stolen vehicle was at a Wawa in Downingtown.

Police say the suspect who stole that car then stole another car parked at Wawa.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office says officials at the Caln Twp. Police tried to stop the driver, but he fled to a residential area.

An officer pulled up at the intersection of Westerham and Shelburne streets in Caln Twp. to insert stop strips.

However, when that officer retrieved the stop strips from his vehicle, the prosecutor’s office said the suspect crashed head-on into the police car. The police car was pushed backwards about 40 meters.

The officer was behind the car at this point, but was able to avoid it.

The suspect’s vehicle stopped about 50 meters away, prosecutors said. The suspect exited the stolen vehicle and walked away from officers as they approached.

When the officer got within 15 feet of the man, the prosecutor’s office said he raised his clenched hands while pointing at the officers and saying, “I’m going to shoot.”

One of the officers opened fire four times and the suspect was shot in the right leg.

The man fell to the ground but got up and, according to prosecutors, waved as if looking for a gun.

Officers determined he was not holding a firearm, and the prosecutor’s office said officers “attempted to de-escalate the situation.”

By this time, the suspect had gone to the passenger door of the stolen car and opened it.

“One of the officers used a taser and brought the suspect under control and he was handcuffed,” the prosecutor’s office said in a press release.

The suspect was taken to hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound and a broken elbow. His name was not published.