Saturday, May 28, 2005
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- City police were investigating the fatal shooting Friday of a suspect by three officers who said the man, wearing a bulletproof vest, fired a gun at officers after a vehicle chase ended.
Vincent S. Napper, 28, died of 20 gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and extremities, Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht said Saturday.
Police said they suspected Napper of driving a stolen car. He was shot about 7:20 p.m. Friday after he stopped, got out of the car and fired three or four shots at officers, police Chief Robert McNeilly Jr. said.
None of the officers was wounded. All three were put on paid administrative leave while police investigate the incident.
The officers each fired most of the rounds from their pistols. Each gun has a clip that holds 12 to 15 bullets, McNeilly said.
The suspect fired at least one shot that struck a patrol car; another hit the windshield of a bystander's car. No one else was hurt in the shooting.
"This was a close call for the officers and the civilian," McNeilly said.