Attorney: Ex-Canon-McMillan wrestler’s gun pointed at cops wasn’t loaded – By Paul Guggenheimer (Trib Live) / May 22 2019
The lawyer for a 19-year-old former Canon-McMillan champion wrestler said his client did not intend to harm three police officers who shot him at his North Strabane home last month.
The officers shot and wounded Logan Macri after he allegedly pointed an AR-15 rifle at them.
Casey White, Macri’s lawyer, said Wednesday that although he pointed a gun at the officers, it wasn’t loaded.
“Therefore, not only did he not have an intent to cause harm, he did not have the ability to cause harm,” White said.
Police charged Macri with 21 crimes including six felonies after they say he attacked his mother with a sword and a handgun. Two officers from North Strabane and one from Canonsburg responded. They ordered Macri to get on the ground, according to a police report.
He initially complied with the officers’ commands, put up his hands and got down on his stomach in the driveway, according to the report.
While they were attempting to take him into custody, Macri suddenly stood up and pointed the rifle at the approaching officers, police said. All three officers shot, striking Macri several times. Macri continued to fight, and police then used a Taser to subdue him.
The complaint also said Macri threatened to kill others and to burn down his home.
Washington County District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone II told the Trib there is police body cam footage of the incident. He said the officers were initially placed on administrative leave, but reinstated after a state police investigation.
A preliminary hearing is set for June 10 in District Court in North Strabane before Magisterial District Judge David W. Mark. Macri was arraigned on aggravated assault and related charges on April 25 after being released from an unnamed hospital.
Macri’s family posted $100,000 bail for him, according to White. He said his client’s physical and emotional state is improving.
“It was a traumatic event and he’s healing day by day,” he said. “Hopefully the officers are doing the same thing because it’s always a traumatic event when they have to discharge their firearms.”
