Charges Filed Against Man in Baldwin Police Shooting

Baldwin Borough police have charged Bryan Robert Lijewski, 30, with one felony and nine misdemeanors stemming from their appearance at Lijewski's home on Elmwood Drive in central Baldwin on Feb. 10, according to an online docket sheet.

Police went to Lijewski's home at 5147 Elmwood at around 4 a.m. that day in response to a domestic disturbance involving a female resident who told police that her boyfriend, who also lives at the home, was holding a gun and was threatening to harm himself, Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said at a news conference later that day.

The incident resulted in the injury of Baldwin Borough police Sgt. Ralph Miller, who was shot twice in the hip/lower back area by a fellow Baldwin officer during a confrontation with the boyfriend at the home.

Another Baldwin officer fired at the house but did not hit anyone. Neither of the Baldwin officers who fired shots have been identified.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the boyfriend was Lijewski. The Allegheny County Assessment Web page lists Lijewski as the home's owner since 2009.

According to the Tribune-Review article, Lijewski refused to show police both of his hands, and Sgt. Miller could see a woman in the house holding a child.

Baldwin police Chief Michael Scott told the Trib that charges have been filed against Lijewski because of "violence that went on in the home before police arrived."

Lijewski faces one count each of illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance, three counts each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, and two counts of endangering the welfare of children.

Two children were inside of the home at the time of the shooting—a 17-month-old and a 6-year-old, Moffatt said. The boyfriend's gun, a shotgun, was found outside of the home.

"It was thrown out of a window outside of the home, in the rear of the home," Moffatt said. "We don't know when it was thrown."

Scott told the Trib that Miller may remain hospitalized for another three weeks and that he may require physical therapy.

Allegheny County police are investigating the shooting.

Scott told the Post-Gazette that he has not "ruled out" that the gun that injured Miller could have malfunctioned.

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