Police: Gunman who shot police also tried to set off fuels
CANONSBURG, Pa. — A man who fatally shot the expectant mother of his child and a Pennsylvania police officer before killing himself apparently had tried to set off explosions in the house they were in and in a vehicle parked out front, police said Saturday.
Michael Cwiklinski, 47, opened fire with a rifle from a second-floor window on two Canonsburg police officers who were first to arrive in response to a 3:20 a.m. domestic violence call Thursday. Both officers were stuck; one of them died, Canonsburg police said.
Patrolman Scott Bashioum, 52, an officer for seven years and a married father of four, was struck twice. He returned fire, “emptying his duty magazine, striking multiple rounds in and through the window,” Chief Alexander Coghill said.
Other officers got him into a patrol vehicle and took him to Canonsburg General Hospital, where he died. Patrolman James Saieva Jr. was struck by one round while still inside his patrol vehicle. He underwent emergency surgery and is “in excellent spirits” and expected to be released soon, Coghill said.