Shot fired at officers, Niles police return deadly fire

Shot fired at officers, Niles police return deadly fire

NILES

Police continued to investigate Tuesday morning at a home on Old Forge Road where police shot and killed a man they believe had just committed a break-in.

Police were not releasing the man’s name pending further identification and notification of his relatives, said Niles Police Capt. Ken Criswell.

A Niles Police press release said the man fired a shot at the officers as officers confronted him in a fenced back yard. Officers returned fire. The officers were not injured.

Police released the 911 tape of the next-door neighbor’s 911 call, in which she asked officers to check to see whether the man she saw walking up her neighbor’s driveway at about 9:45 p.m. Monday might have been committing a break-in.

“I was looking out the front window and I saw him walking up the street and then I was ready to turn around and I saw him going up their driveway,” the woman told the 911 operator.

“I don’t think they’re home. They might be, but I’d rather be safe than sorry,” she said.

The woman also called her neighbor’s house, and nobody answered the phone, she said, adding that she saw a light “coming on in the house” and also noticed that the neighbor’s security light had come on in the front of the house.

Two officers arrived in about 100 seconds at the house the caller told them, 1773 Old Forge, and found the man exiting the rear of the house.

Neighbors said they heard about six or seven shots in succession.