The actions of a Richland Township police officer who shot and wounded a gunman last month have been justified. District Attorney Kelly Callihan told 6 News that Kevin McGee had planned an attack on an officer he held a grudge against because he the officer arrested him earlier in the year.

A different police officer shot McGee when, investigators said, he pointed a gun at him and another officer. Callihan identified the officer who fired the shot as John Lucas.

It was Sept. 13 when McGee opened fire on a Richland Township police cruiser, police saidsaid. When he aimed his gun through a window at police inside, Lucas fired back shooting McGee in the stomach, police said. It's an action Callihan has ruled justifiable.

"I think this case illustrated the safety issues police have," said Callihan. "This individual had a gripe with officer who arrested him and took actions to carry out an assault on him."

Callihan also ruled June's deadly Johnstown police involved shooting justified, but in that case, she did not release the names of the officers involved.

"I had planned on releasing the names of the officers up until two days prior to my release," said Callihan.
"We got what we perceived to be clear and legitimate threats, not only towards those officers, but towards the city police department in general."

While both shootings required officers to use deadly force, Callihan said the incidents leading up are different, and that's why she's comfortable releasing the name of the officer who shot and wounded McGee.

"The person who carried out the assault is incarcerated and will be prosecuted," said Callihan. "We don't have the level of threat to public safety that we had in the prior incident."

The officer McGee had threatened was not in the building at the time of the shooting, but Callihan said it was still a direct attack against the department.

"This is exactly what I worry about and why I decided to not release the names of the officers in the city shooting," said Callihan.

The name of the officer McGee targeted has not been released, but Callihan said he will be called to testify at McGee's prelim hearing next week.