3 Bodies Found At Scene Of Fire, Shooting In Delco

EAST LANSDOWNE, PA — Three bodies have been found in the burned rubble of a Delaware County home Thursday after it went up in flames following the shooting of two police officers Wednesday afternoon.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer Wednesday night said after the shooting and fire that six to eight people are unaccounted for.

Stollsteimer at a news conference Thursday said three adults and three children, members of the Le family, were living in the home at 58 Lewis Ave. in East Lansdowne where the scene unfolded at about 3:47 p.m. Wednesday.

Officials fear those members of the Le family were in the house and are dead.

The DA's office said the three bodies included two adults, one of whom was the shooter, and one that is likely a child.

A rifle was also located, Stollsteimer said.

Thursday morning Stollsteimer said, "there's nobody alive inside that burned out hulk of a house."

Officers from East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, and Upper Darby were dispatched to the home at about 3:47 p.m. Wednesday after getting a call about an 11-year-old girl being shot there.

Authorities said officers were immediately met by gunfire from inside the home when they arrived, with one officer from East Lansdowne and one from Lansdowne being hit once each.

Authorities Thursday identified the officers as David Schiazza, 54, a 22-year veteran of the Lansdowne Police Department, and John Meehan, 44, who has served with East Lansdowne Police for 22 years.

Schiazza suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and is being released at 3 p.m. Thursday. Meehan suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm, which required a lengthy surgery. He is still being treated, and it is unclear when he will be released.

Upper Darby officers helped the injured officers to safety, and they were taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital. They suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

About 15 minutes after the shooting, the shooter set the home on fire, Stollsteimer said.

Firefighters were unable to tackle the blaze for some time, as there was fear of more potential gunfire. A SWAT team was called in to assist with the situation.

Eventually, crews battled the raging fire back and by early evening the home appeared to have been nearly full burned out, officials said.

Stollsteimer said officials fear there are several dead in the home and that more information would be gleaned Thursday as investigators comb through the charred remains of the home.