The Chester County District Attorney released new information on a police-involved shooting in Coatesville that left an alleged gunman hospitalized.
According to officials, two police officers were on patrol on the 700 block of Merchant Street in Coatesville around 1 a.m. on Saturday.
While on patrol, investigators say the officers spotted a man later identified as 32-year-old Andre Fiorentino aka “Needles,” who was previously convicted for armed robbery. According to police, Fiorentino was looking into the windows of parked cars in the area.
Both officers approached Fiorentino and asked for his identification, according to officials. Fiorentino allegedly refused to identify himself and instead reached into the front waist area of his pants. Believing that Fiorentino was reaching for a gun, police say one of the officers pulled out a taser and told him to stop. Fiorentino allegedly responded by pulling out a gun and firing two shots at the officers.
Police say both officers pulled out their own guns and returned fire, striking Fiorentino several times. Despite falling to the ground after suffering multiple gunshot wounds, Fiorentino remained defiant, according to police. As the officers approached him, Fiorentino allegedly reached for his gun once more and yelled at the officers, “F*** you, you pigs! You can’t kill me!”
Police say the officers moved the gun away from Fiorentino who was taken to Paoli Hospital. The officers were not struck or hurt during the shooting. According to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, both officers involved are military veterans, each serving in the United Sates Marine Corps.
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According to investigators, the gun Fiorentino used to fire at the officers was a .38 caliber revolver that was stolen from Johnstown, Pa. one year ago. Police also say they recovered a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun from Fiorentino’s clothing while he was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Fiorentino is currently in stable condition. Police say he will be charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other related offenses.
According to Hogan, the shooting by the officers was justified.
"The Coatesville Police Department responded appropriately and professionally throughout this incident,” Hogan said. “Given the defendant's conduct, the defendant was lucky he was not killed and Chester County is lucky that two police officers are not dead. In Chester County, we will not permit our police officers to be targeted. It will be a long time before this defendant sees blue sky again."
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