Saturday, June 30, 2012
Associated Press
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.
A driver who was shot and killed by police in western Pennsylvania was taking a relative to the hospital at the time, another passenger says.
Hayward Gaines III tells the Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown that 27-year-old Elip Cheatham was trying Monday to get help for his cousin, who had been shot in a separate incident that police were investigating.
Police say Cheatham accelerated his car toward them and failed to heed warnings to stop, but Gaines says they were no warnings.
Gaines says Cheatham was just trying to get around the location where police had stopped another person.
Three Johnstown officers who fired shots at Cheatham’s car are on paid suspension while authorities investigate whether the shooting was justified.
Police say Cheatham wasn’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs.