The Allegheny County Police said Monday that a Penn Hills police officer killed a homicide suspect in an exchange of gunfire Sunday night and a second suspect, 15-year-old Myzle Ford, was arrested.
At a news briefing, county police superintendent Coleman McDonough said the department is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
Onaje Dickinson, 20, was fatally shot by a Penn Hills police officer after an exchange of gunfire Sunday night.
On Sunday evening police officers and paramedics were dispatched to the Sharon Court apartment complex parking lot in Penn Hills where the homicide victim, 30-year-old Joshua Antonio Makhanda-Lopez, was found in a car.
Makhanda-Lopez had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead. Allegheny County police joined Penn Hills officers at the scene. Witnesses pointed police in the direction they said two people had fled from the scene.
According to the county, the officers tracked them to a nearby residence. The homeowner, Ford’s mother, told police there were four men in the house.
When asked to come out, three of the men emerged, but Dickinson remained in the basement. McDonough said a Penn Hills officer commanded Dickinson comply, Dickinson fired at and then charged at the officer. The officer returned fire, striking Dickinson twice, once in the head. Dickinson was later identified by the county medical examiner.
Ford was arrested and charged as an adult with robbery, conspiracy, homicide, and weapons violations.
Penn Hills Police are not releasing the name of the involved officer, per department policy.
The Allegheny County Police Department is reviewing body camera footage from the Penn Hills officer. That evidence and the results of the police-involved shooting investigation will be given to the District Attorney for review for use of force.
