Police Officer Shot In New Kensington, PA Has Died, Gunman Still At Large

NEW KENSINGTON, PA (KDKA) —
A manhunt is continuing in Westmoreland County into the overnight hours after a police officer was fatally shot in the chest Friday evening in New Kensington.

The shooting was first reported around 8:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of Leishman Avenue.

Sources say the gunman remains at large. A massive police presence has converged on the New Kensington area, including officers from Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties, Pittsburgh Police, McKeesport Police and North Versailles Police.

“I’ve never seen this many… I’ve never seen more than two cop cars here,” said one neighbor. “This is insane. We’re all praying for him… and for all the police officers to just catch whoever did this.”

“It’s kinda scary, especially with my kids around, but seeing a lot of action like this, it’s crazy. It’s scary, really. It’s unbelievable,” said Maria Ceniceros, another neighbor.

The vehicle had reportedly been seen earlier in the evening on Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills.

Elsewhere in New Kensington, police surrounded the area of the 1100 block Walnut Street after 11:30 p.m. But it was unclear what they were looking for.