Police shoot, kill armed man on Route 22 after chase
DERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - A Johnstown man was shot and killed by Pennsylvania State Police on Route 22 in Derry Township, Westmoreland County after a high-speed pursuit that started in Richland Township, Cambria County.
The police chase reached speeds of 100 mph on Route 22.
"He was driving down 22 at a high rate of speed and that's a huge concern because we are worried about the people driving on 22, lots of people on 22 at this time of day," said Trooper Steve Limani, Pennsylvania State Police Troop A public information officer.
Limani said troopers were advised that 35-year-old Krysten Pretlor of Johnstown was armed with a handgun and that he was wanted on felony charges regarding a domestic violence incident in Richland Township Thursday afternoon. He said when Richland Township police encountered Pretlor, he led them on a pursuit.
He said troopers attempted to apprehend Pretlor, who was in possession of a firearm, but he did not comply with their requests and officers discharged their weapons.
"At that point in time we tried to engage him with some requests," Limani said. "Unfortunately it escalated very quickly into gunfire and subsequently he was killed."
Troopers said they cannot say if Pretlor fired his gun until the investigation is complete.
"We were outside and then all of sudden we heard a huge bang then a big crash and then we heard several gunshots after that," said London Dolan, who lives right by Route 22.
Dolan said the gunshots scared her and her children.
"We ran back down the hill and seen the incident and got back inside and locked the doors because we just felt unsafe," Dolan said.
Pretlor had a long criminal history. He pleaded guilty to shooting and injuring a man in Dale borough, Cambria County in December 2016.
State police said in accordance with their policy, the involved trooper or troopers will be placed on administrative duties while the shooting is under investigation.
"It's one of the worst things for a police officer to have to be involved in such a horrible event, the loss of life is a shame and unfortunately that's the situation we were put in," Trooper Limani said.
Pennsylvania State Police Troop A Major Case Team is investigating the incident in conjunction with the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office and the Richland Township Police Department.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli released a statement that said in part, "This investigation is ongoing. I will await the full and complete investigative report. After a thorough and unbiased review of the evidence, I will make a legal determination as to the use of force."
