Police investigate shooting and murder over weekend in Harrisburg

Harrisburg and Dauphin County police continue to investigate a series of weekend shootings, including a traffic stop on Saturday in which four officers opened fire on a man who was shot and seriously injured, and a homicide on Sunday that is being investigated as a possible case of self-defense. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Monday that a homicide occurred early Sunday evening during an altercation between a man later identified as 52-year-old Paul Kattouf and an as-yet-unidentified driver on State Street. Chardo said the altercation appeared to be related to hostilities surrounding an earlier altercation on another street. He noted that the initial investigation revealed that during the altercation, Kattouf sprayed pepper spray or a similar substance into the vehicle containing the man who fatally shot him, his pregnant wife and their young child.Chardo said the presence of the family will be among the important factors considered in the investigation.Harrisburg police and the district attorney’s office continue to investigate the case, which has not yet resulted in any charges.“We are continuing to investigate and put the pieces of the puzzle together to figure out what happened,” Lt. Kyle Gautsch, a spokesman for Harrisburg police.Investigation of man shot by officersChardo said Monday his office continues to investigate a traffic stop Saturday in which four officers opened fire on a man wanted on a drug charge.Although the case is still in its early stages, Chardo said at this time there is no evidence that the man shot by officers fired a gun at the officers before they began shooting.When reached Monday evening, Chardo said he could not say whether the man, who has not yet been identified, was in possession of a firearm or if one was recovered from his vehicle or at the scene.Chardo said he was awaiting interviews with those involved and more information, but noted that officers may have believed the man, who was previously in critical condition but presumed to have survived, was reaching for a weapon.Dauphin County investigators are reviewing the incident and the use of force since Harrisburg police officers were involved. The four officers are on inside duty pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Gautsch, who referred any further comment on the incident to the district attorney’s office.Including Saturday’s incident, city police officers have been involved in a shooting three times this year. Those incidents included a March shooting across a busy street that left a gunman injured and the fatal shooting of a man who the district attorney said fired at police officers pursuing him in connection with shootings downtown.Woman shot in Midtown Friday night. Harrisburg police are also investigating a Friday night shooting in the 200 block of Verbeke Street that left a woman injured. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. and the woman who was shot suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information can contact Harrisburg police or CrimeStoppers.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania —

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Monday that a homicide occurred on State Street early Sunday evening following an altercation between a man later identified as 52-year-old Paul Kattouf and an as-yet-unidentified driver.

Chardo said the altercation appeared to be related to hostilities from an earlier altercation on another street. He noted that the initial investigation revealed that during the altercation, Kattouf sprayed pepper spray or a similar substance into the vehicle containing the man who shot him, his pregnant wife and their young child.

Chardo said the family’s presence was one of the important factors taken into account in the investigation.

Harrisburg police and prosecutors continue to investigate the case, which has not yet resulted in charges.

“We are continuing to investigate and put the pieces together to figure out what happened,” said Lt. Kyle Gautsch, a Harrisburg police spokesman.

Investigation into a man shot by police

Chardo said Monday that his office is continuing to investigate a traffic stop Saturday in which four officers opened fire on a man wanted on a drug charge.

Although the case is still in its early stages, Chardo said there is no evidence at this time that the man shot by police fired at officers before they began shooting.

When reached Monday evening, Chardo said he could not comment on whether the man, whose identity has not yet been established, was in possession of a firearm or whether one was found in his vehicle or at the crime scene.

Chardo said he was waiting to interview those involved and receive more information, but noted that officers may have believed the man – who had previously been reported to be in critical condition but was expected to survive – was reaching for a weapon.

Dauphin County investigators are reviewing the incident and the use of force, as Harrisburg police officers were involved. The four officers are on inside duty pending the outcome of the investigation, said Gautsch, who referred any further comments on the incident to the district attorney’s office.

Including Saturday’s incident, the city’s police officers have been involved in shootings three times this year. Those incidents included a shootout across a busy street in March that left a gunman injured and the fatal shooting of a man who the district attorney said fired at police officers pursuing him in connection with shootings downtown.