Alleged shooter captured in W.Va.
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
After a nine-day search, the man accused of shooting a McKeesport police officer is in custody.
In a release issued just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, Allegheny County police Lt. Venerando Costa confirmed 22-year-old Koby Lee Francis of McKeesport is in custody in Clarksburg, W.Va.
He is accused of shooting Officer Gerasimos “Jerry” Athans, 32, Dec. 20 outside of the main entrance to the McKeesport police station with a gun he was allegedly able to conceal after being taken into custody for an alleged Protection From Abuse order violation the same day, according to ACPD.
Athans, who was struck by three rounds, was released from a Pittsburgh-area hospital Dec. 21, just in time to spend Christmas with his family.
U.S. marshals assigned to the West Virginia Northern Office’s Mountain State Fugitive Task Force took Francis into custody at 6:07 p.m. Tuesday at the Oakland Apartments in Clarksburg, Costa said Tuesday.
Francis, who is charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt homicide, person not to possess a firearm, flight to avoid apprehension trial or punishment, and escape, is being housed at the North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Doddridge County, W.Va., to await extradition to Pennsylvania.
The shooting happened just after 4 p.m. Dec. 20 as Athans returned to the station with Francis handcuffed in the backseat.
When the officer opened the back door to remove Francis from the car, surveillance footage appears to show that Athans was shot almost immediately. He ran for cover as Francis appeared to exit the car and continue to fire in Athans’ direction. Athans returned fire, emptying his gun clip as Francis ran away. Officials said there is no evidence Francis was struck by any of the bullets.
The investigation and capture of Francis was a multi-agency effort that included the McKeesport and Allegheny County police departments, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, West Virginia State Police, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, ATF and FBI Pittsburgh.
Also involved were the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksburg Police Department and Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Costa said.
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