(DailyVantage.com) – More than 60 law enforcement agents throughout the United States lost their lives to gunfire in 2022. On Monday, January 2, the small town of Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, lost its police chief to an exchange of bullets. Only a few hours later, police from another jurisdiction shot and killed the gunman allegedly responsible for the chief’s death.
Chief Justin McIntire pursued Aaron Lamont Swan, 28, on foot in the 800 block of Third street around 4:15 p.m. Police suspected Swan violated his probation by illegally possessing weapons. The suspect allegedly exchanged gunfire with the officer, striking him in the head and killing him at the scene.
Pennsylvania police chief killed in shooting; suspected gunman shot dead in shootout hours laterhttps://t.co/xRJSixwmHp
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 3, 2023
A few blocks away, Swan tried to steal a truck from Todd Pierce, who was working on the vehicle in his driveway, but Pierce didn’t have the keys with him. When the suspect pulled a gun on him, Pierce disarmed the man and rolled under his truck as Tarentum police sped up to the scene.
Swan had additional firearms and exchanged gunfire with the Tarentum responders, hitting officer Jordan Schrecengost in the leg before fleeing the scene on foot and committing a carjacking. Emergency workers transported Schrecengost to the hospital, where doctors treated and released him.
The Suspect Drove to Pittsburgh
Swan drove the stolen vehicle to Homewood, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where local police attempted to make a traffic stop. He led the detectives on a chase ending in a crash in a housing development, where he fled into a wooded area.
While fleeing, Swan allegedly opened fire on law enforcement agents again. This time, officers struck the suspect with return fire, and he died at the scene.
Several community members expressed shock at Chief McIntire’s death. First responders accompanied a procession bringing his body back to Brackenridge on Tuesday. Pennsylvania Governor-elect Josh Shapiro said McIntire “made the ultimate sacrifice” to “keep Pennsylvanians safe.” Governor Tom Wolf ordered flags flown at half-staff to honor the fallen lawman until dusk on the day of his internment.
— John MacNeil Allison (@JohnAllison_PGH) January 3, 2023
Services will include a Christian Mass at noon Wednesday, January 11, at the Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington, followed by burial at Mt. Airy Cemetery in Harrison. All services will be public, according to Ross Walker, the owner of Ross G. Walker Funeral Home in New Kensington.
Chief McIntire leaves behind his wife, Ashley, two sons, and a daughter.
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