David Freed, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, speaks about an officer killing during a press conference in the Ronald Reagan Federal Building on Thursday.
A deputy U.S. marshal was killed and a York City police officer wounded after gunfire erupted in a Harrisburg residence early this morning, where members of a federal fugitive task force went to serve a warrant to a Harrisburg woman.
An unidentified male who opened fire at the officers succumbed to gunshot wounds this afternoon, said law enforcement officials. The subject of the warrant, who has been identified as Shayla Lynette Towles Pierce, was taken into custody at the scene. She is being held at the Dauphin County Booking Center on the warrant’s charges of making terroristic threats with a weapon, officials said.
Officials have confirmed the identify of the slain officer as Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, 45, of York County. Hill, an 11-year veteran of the Marshals Service, was married with two children.
U.S. Marshal Martin Pane praised Hill at a press conference in the federal courthouse this afternoon. Pane’s voice broke as he recalled Hill’s record of service, which included a tour in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army.
“Chris was one of those guys who rose to the top,” said Pane, who called Hill one of the best officers he has encountered in his own 30-year career as a marshal.
According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, officers in the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force arrived at a residence in the 1800-block of Mulberry Street just after 6 a.m. today to serve Pierce an arrest warrant. After they announced their presence and entered the residence, they apprehended her on the second floor of the dwelling.
Pane could not say if officers had to use force while arresting Pierce.
After placing Pierce in handcuffs, Freed said, gunfire erupted from the second floor of the residence. Hill and York City police officer Kyle Pitts were both struck. Hill died of his wounds at UPMC Pinnacle Hospital, Freed said. Pitts underwent surgery this afternoon and is expected to survive.
The source of the gunfire was an unidentified male, who allegedly fled to the first floor of the building and exited through the front door while firing his weapon. Officers returned fire and struck the suspect, killing him.
In a statement issued this morning, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that a Harrisburg officer shot and killed the gunman after being struck by a bullet himself. However, Pane and Freed could not confirm who fired the fatal shot at the suspect. They also said that only two officers—Hill and Pitts—were struck by gunfire. A third officer was reportedly struck, but not injured, by a projectile.
Law enforcement officials said that some details of the incident are still unclear. They could not confirm the relationship between Pierce and the gunman. They also did not know how many people lived in the Mulberry Street home.
Two children between the ages of 9 and 13 were reportedly in the residence this morning. Freed did not know their whereabouts this afternoon, but said they were likely taken into state custody or placed with relatives.
Law enforcement investigators at the local, county and federal levels are collaborating to execute a full investigation into this morning’s incident. They are still working to confirm the identity of the male gunman and also hope to determine which officer fired the shot that killed him.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said that his office will perform a full investigation to determine whether the officers’ use of deadly force was justifiable. Chardo said the investigation is necessary even though the suspect fired the first shot.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro also pledged his office’s full support of the investigation, especially as local agencies grieve the loss of an officer and cope with the injury of another.
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the commonwealth flag to fly at half-staff in Hill’s honor immediately through his interment.
Jan. 22: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Hill was a Camp Hill resident. He is from York County.
