Pittsburgh Man Killed In Police Shootout Had Lengthy Criminal Record

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Garfield man killed after a 6-hour shootout with police Wednesday was no stranger to criminal charges. William Hardison Sr., 62, had been charged with a variety of offenses over the years before he went on the shooting spree.

An attempted eviction of Hardison on Wednesday turned into a prolonged shootout between the evictee and police and prompted the tense evacuation of people in the 4800 block of Broad Street.

Court records indicate he was scheduled to be evicted at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, around the time the incident began. Member of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office were trying to serve an eviction notice when the occupant began firing.

Thousands of rounds of ammunition were exchanged in the shootout. At one point, police had to ask for additional ammo.

Multiple units from every police zone, as well as Public Safety personnel from Pittsburgh EMS, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, and the Officeof Emergency Management and Homeland Security, responded to assist, in addition to local state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Despite the hours-long exchange of gunfire, no serious injuries were reported.

Court records indicate that Hardison pleaded guilty last year to carrying a firearm without a license and was ordered to serve two years of probation. He faced the same charge in 2019.

Among the other charges he faced were forgery, to which he pleaded guilty; disorderly conduct; attempting to elude police; harassment and marijuana possession.

Pittsburgh Public Safety officiaIs said Thursday that city social workers and trauma support teams from the Office of Community Health & Safety will be making themselves available in Garfield and throughout the city to ensure community members have access to the support services they might require following the traumatic event.

“Our Public Safety personnel - a family -, the community of Garfield, and indeed the entire City of Pittsburgh, suffered a collective trauma in experiencing this unfortunate incident," Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said.

Pennsylvania State Police are now handling the investigation.