Officers On Leave Amid KOP Shooting Probe

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — An investigation headed up by the Montgomery County District Attorney's office into the police-involved shooting of a suspected robber Sunday has begun.

The investigation is standard practice in the wake of any officer-involved shootings. The officers with the Upper Merion Police Department who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, the DA's office said.

"I can assure the public that this investigation will be fair and it will be thorough," DA Kevin Steele said in a statement Monday afternoon. "We will determine the circumstances that led up to the shooting and whether the decision to use deadly force is lawful in that situation."

Authorities declined to issue any additional information about the incident, and also would not name the suspect or the officers involved in the shooting.

The suspect, meanwhile, remains in serious condition at Paoli Hospital.

The incident occurred at 4 p.m. Sunday in a parking lot outside of Lord and Taylor's at the Court at King of Prussia.

The suspect, described as a "serial robber" by authorities, had held up a female victim in the Green Parking Garage at gunpoint on Saturday, police said. He allegedly jumped into the woman's back seat as she entered her car, holding a gun to her head and demanding her purse.

Upper Merion police said they worked with the United States Marshals to identify the suspect, who was wanted for three similar crimes, and a kidnapping, in the Wilmington, Del. area. In at least one of those incidents, he fired a shot at the victim as the victim tried to run away, according to police.

Police tracked the suspect back to the Green Parking Garage at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, as they became aware he was driving the same stolen vehicle - which he stole in New Castle, Del. earlier on Saturday - he had used in the Saturday night robbery.

When they tried to take the suspect into custody, he fled through the garage, striking police cars and attempting to run down officers who were on foot, according to authorities.

Police opened fire and ultimately hit him twice. A 9 mm handgun was found in the front seat of the stolen car.

He was immediately given first aid, police said, and then rushed to Paoli Hospital by Lafayette Ambulance.

Nearby roads were closed as the scene, near the intersection of Gulph Road and Kirk Avenue, was investigated.

Image via Simon Malls