MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Authorities released surveillance footage Monday of a shooting that injured a McKeesport police officer and sparked a manhunt for a 22-year-old man over the weekend, WPXI reported.
Officials told the news station that Officer Geriasimos Athens, 32, was in stable condition after the attack Sunday afternoon left him with gunshot wounds to his chest or shoulder and his neck. Athens, a four-year veteran of the police force, was rushed to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which did not appear to be life-threatening, according to WPXI.
#BREAKING: New details released after McKeesport police officer shot while taking man into custody, including the officer's name https://t.co/SWwGR6EWya
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) December 21, 2020
Officials told the news station that Athens was shot after picking up Koby Francis for violating a protection from abuse order. The order had been served to him about an hour before officers found him sitting outside the home of the person who took out the order, authorities said. Police told WPXI that Francis said he was there to get his child, who he was also barred from seeing because of the protection order.
Officers found a gun in Francis’ car while taking him into custody just after 4 p.m., according to Allegheny County police. Authorities said Francis was combative after he was arrested and that he kicked out the window of a police car while he was being transported to the McKeesport Police Station.
Surveillance footage released Monday showed Athens getting out of his police car, opening the back door to get Francis and doubling over. In a criminal complaint obtained by WPXI, investigators said Francis shot Athens twice in the shoulder or chest and once in the neck with a gun he’d hidden.
BREAKING: Video released from police shows suspect shooting at McKeesport officer. Investigators say the suspect shooting is Koby Francis, who is seen running away after firing again. Police giving live update HERE —> https://t.co/Px0p4jWrE8 pic.twitter.com/jacG9TJ7ua
— Gabriella DeLuca (@GabriellaDeLuca) December 21, 2020
Authorities said video in the area showed Francis running after the shooting with his hands, which had been handcuffed behind his back, in front of him. He still had handcuffs around his wrists, WPXI reported.
Francis is described as 6-foot-2 with a thin build, black hair and black eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, camouflage pants and black shoes with white soles.
Authorities urged anyone who sees Francis to call 911 immediately, calling him “armed and dangerous.”
Officials continue to investigate.
Cox Media Group
