Pittsburgh-Area Police Officer Fatally Shoots Vehicle Theft Suspect

BRENTWOOD, PA — A Brentwood police officer shot and killed a suspected car thief Wednesday while attempting to make a traffic stop.

At around 5 p.m. an Allegheny County police officer located a reported stolen vehicle traveling on Brownsville Road in South Park and attempted an initial traffic stop. The drive of the black Nissan Rogue fled the scene, and officers moments later stopped following the vehicle.

At around 5:06 p.m., Brentwood officers located the vehicle along Route 51 and pursued it. During the chase, the suspect suspect rammed a Brentwood Police Department vehicle along Laveton Road in Brentwood.

At around 5:09 pm, the suspect fled the vehicle on foot along Check Way. During a brief foot chase, the suspect fought with a Brentwood officer who discovered the suspect had a firearm. Moments later, the officer shot the suspect multiple times.

The suspect, who was found to have a firearm in his possession, was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office identified him as Craig W. McGrath, 37, of Pittsburgh.

The name of the officer involved in the shooting has not yet been released.

County police are handling the investigation.