Trapped in the house from which he was about to be evicted, a Pittsburgh grandfather engages in a shootout against police in which more than a thousand shots are fired.
Multiple SWAT teams arrived on the scene and tear gas was fired repeatedly at the house since the gunman barricaded himself inside after police tried to serve him an eviction notice around 11 a.m.
A police source named the man William Bill Hardison, 62, according to WPXI-TV, while relatives said the home belonged to his recently deceased brother.
The president is briefed on updates on the scene and a woman who identified herself as the man’s sister offered herself as an intermediary, but was turned down by police who warned the gunman might not recognize her amid the chaos.
“He’s a good man, he just lost his brother and he was on duty,” the woman yelled at reporters.
Multiple SWAT teams are on scene at the 4800 block of Broad Street and N. Mathilda Street in Garfield, Pittsburgh. The gunman barricaded himself in a house after police tried to get him an eviction notice around 11am
Pittsburgh Police and other law enforcement personnel are seen outside the home, with the occupant still inside
A law enforcement officer responds to gunfire in the Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh
It was speculated that the man might be dead after an hour of no firing, and police prepared a remote-controlled armored excavator to break into the house.
But shortly after 3 p.m., shooting resumed and TV crews were ordered to leave the area.
Family member Marlene Jones told CBS that his mental health has been deteriorating for a year.
“He just got worse and worse,” she explained.
“If only they let me and his girlfriend Karen go there.
“She’s preparing for the worst, she said, ‘I think they’re going to kill him.’
Neighbors described him as violent and said he boarded up the home’s windows with large “do not disturb” signs, WPXI reported.
Another family member described him as a “prankster” and said they had no idea what was going on, but would have offered him a room if he needed a place to sleep.
The gunman’s relatives owned the house, and when they died, he refused to leave. The property was sold for tax purposes and now has a new owner, but the squatter still refuses to leave.
One police source said the shooter identifies as a “sovereign citizen,” an anti-government extremist, WPXI reported.
The new homeowners’ attorney told CBS that agents had been warned that the squatter was heavily armed and that the issue of his eviction would be unpredictable.
Witnesses said that after banging on the door, police used a sledgehammer to gain entry. At this point the gunfire began.
The ordeal culminated in a firefight and ‘hundreds’ of bullets were fired.
Police at one point stormed in within yards of the gunman to take an immediate neighbor to safety.
The video shows SWAT teams firing on the house to provide cover for the officers who stormed in and dragged the neighbor in an armored vehicle at the 4800 block of Broad Street and N. Mathilda Street.
Two police drones, deployed to circle the residence to provide assistance and knowledge to the teams on the ground, were shot down by the suspect.
People living in the 4800 block of Broad St have been told to stay put, call 911 and wait for officers to evacuate them.
The police issued an urgent warning this morning: “This is an extremely active situation with shooting still going on. Avoid the area at this time.”
Witnesses said that after banging on the door, police used a sledgehammer to gain entry. At this point the gunfire began
There are multiple SWAT teams on the ground in Pittsburgh
An Allegheny County Police Department SWAT vehicle responds to gunfire
Initial reports say some deputies are out of ammunition. Others have been injured in the standoff.
About a dozen Pittsburgh SWAT officers arrived at the scene and prepared to confront the gunman.
One deputy was ‘pinned’ in a defensive position during the attack. He was rescued by a member of the SWAT team, CBS reported.
The ordeal takes place not far from St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery and UPMC Children’s Hospital.
Videos captured at the scene showed multiple police cars encircling the residential street, while at least 20 gunshots were fired in the background.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a neighbor said he heard hundreds of shots when the shooting began — and there have been hundreds more shots since.
Sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve an eviction notice. The man’s relatives owned the house, and when they died, he refused to leave. The property was sold for tax purposes and now has a new owner. But the squatter still refused to leave
Residents have been told to avoid the 4800 block of Broad Street and N. Mathilda Street in Garfield, Pittsburgh
He immediately hit the ground in his living room when police told people to stay away from windows.
Chris Wilkinson, who visits family in the area, told CBS, “At first we only heard the police. They banged on the door where the shooting is taking place.
“They pounded on it and told him they were there. And after they did it for a few minutes, they started to kick in the door, but after a few attempts, they failed.
“Then they took a sledgehammer and broke down the door, and shots were fired. I’ve been very nervous and it’s really sad what’s happening.
“You think you can be safe here, but you can’t because of what’s happening.”
SWAT is now going door to door evacuating everyone on the street.
Neighborhood academy school has gone into lockdown. West Penn Hospital is partially closed.
SWAT members on the ground have now deployed robots.
Leslie Thompson, who lives in the house opposite the commotion: ‘It’s unbelievable. I’m very nervous. Shots rang out everywhere.’
Thompson, who was working from home at the time, told CBS she ran to the basement when she started hearing the ordeal outside her window.
She screamed and cried while talking to her manager on the phone — and her home was also hit by gunfire.
The right side of this front door footage shows the initial gunfire producing smoke
Video taken at the scene showed multiple police cars encircling the residential street, while at least 15 gunshots were fired in the background. The police issued an urgent warning this morning: “This is an extremely active situation with shooting still going on. Avoid the area at this time’
The witness said the gunshots came through her window into her living room and her bathroom – which is now riddled with bullet holes.
Glass was broken all over her house, she said.
“Trying to reach the basement was almost unbearable, shots rang out everywhere.”
Thompson was evacuated from her home by police.
She said it is by the “grace of God” that she lives.