On a spring morning in Pittsburgh, 36-year-old Police Officer Paul John Rizzo Domenic Sciullo, II, a male, responded to a domestic disturbance call that would end in tragedy. It was April 4, 2009, and Officer Sciullo, along with his partner Officer Stephen Mayhle, arrived at a home in the Stanton Heights neighborhood around 7:00 AM. They were met with a situation that quickly and violently escalated, leaving three officers dead and a community in mourning.
Upon entering the residence,
Officer Sciullo was immediately ambushed and fatally shot by a man armed with a shotgun. The gunman, who was also wearing a bullet-resistant vest, then turned his weapon on Officer Mayhle, who had retreated from the house and returned fire. Despite being struck multiple times, the suspect's body armor protected him. He then used an AK-47 to kill Officer Mayhle. The shooter then positioned himself at a window, firing at anyone who approached.
The sound of gunfire drew a third officer, Eric Kelly, to the scene. Though off-duty and on his way home, Officer Kelly responded to the call for backup. As he exited his vehicle to aid his fallen comrades, he was met with a hail of bullets from the suspect's AK-47 and was mortally wounded. Despite his injuries, Officer Kelly was able to radio for assistance, directing other responding officers to the location before succumbing to his wounds at a local hospital. A tense standoff ensued, lasting for four hours as the suspect, armed with several guns, engaged in a fierce gun battle with patrol and SWAT officers, during which over 100 rounds were fired.
Eventually, after being shot multiple times in the legs and vest, the suspect surrendered to authorities. He was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of aggravated homicide and assault. On June 28, 2011, the man responsible for the deaths of Officer Paul John Rizzo Domenic Sciullo, II, Officer Stephen Mayhle, and Officer Eric Kelly was convicted and sentenced to death.
