Pa. trooper says he feared for life before firing
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GREENSBURG (AP) – A Western Pennsylvania state trooper says he feared for his life when he shot and killed a man who he said attacked him with a pair of scissors in January.
WTAE-TV said Trooper Chad Cope of the Greensburg barracks testified Tuesday in a coroner’s inquest into the death of 26-year-old Seth O’Donnell at the Crossroads Plaza shopping center in Westmoreland County.
Store employees and shoppers said O’Donnell was eating snacks he hadn’t paid for and threatening employees with scissors.
Cope said he ordered O’Donnell twice to drop the scissors and during a struggle used a stun gun on him as O’Donnell sliced his head and body.
Coroner Kenneth Bacha sought the inquest to determine whether the shooting was justified. Local attorney John Greiner presided and will submit a report.