The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office released bodycam footage of a deadly police shooting involving Andrew Ward, 39, of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Click link to watch video.
The incident, which took place on November 3, began hours earlier when Ward was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). His blood alcohol content measured at 0.229, nearly three times the legal limit.
During the arrest, Ward resisted and had to be subdued, damaging his sunglasses in the process. He was processed and released to his spouse later that night. At approximately 1:30 a.m. the following morning, Ward returned to the Northwest Regional Police station, upset about a missing piece of his sunglasses.
Using an external phone to contact 911, he insisted on retrieving the item. Officer #1, along with a civilian ride-along, encountered Ward in the station’s parking lot and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
Despite the officer's explanation that the broken arm piece had been returned with the sunglasses, Ward grew increasingly agitated, displaying signs of intoxication such as slurred speech and unsteady movements.
Backup was called, and Officer #2 arrived at the scene. As Ward grew more uncooperative, Officer #1 informed him he was under arrest. Despite multiple commands to comply, Ward refused and walked backward away from the officers. A Taser was deployed but malfunctioned, escalating the situation further.
At this point, Ward lifted his sweatshirt, revealing a handgun tucked into his waistband. Officer #1 immediately dropped the Taser and drew their firearm, shouting a warning: "Gun!" Ward then drew the handgun and pointed it at the officers, prompting Officer #1 to fire eight rounds, striking Ward multiple times.
Officer #2 also deployed their Taser, hitting Ward's hand. Despite life-saving efforts by Officer #1, Ward succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The aftermath revealed a loaded handgun near Ward’s body.
Inside his vehicle, officers discovered an alarming cache of weapons, including an M4-style semi-automatic rifle with a 30-round magazine, two additional loaded handguns, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Bodycam footage confirmed that Ward had indeed aimed his weapon at the officers, endangering their lives and those of bystanders, including the civilian ride-along, who escaped unharmed.
The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office concluded that the officer's use of deadly force was legally justified. District Attorney Heather Adams emphasized that the officers faced a life-threatening situation and acted within their legal rights to protect themselves and others.
"The law is clear that police officers have no duty to retreat from making an arrest," she stated. "In this case, the officer recognized that a deadly weapon had been introduced and acted quickly to protect their own life and the lives of two others."
This tragic incident underscores the challenges law enforcement officers face when dealing with volatile situations. It also highlights the legal framework governing the use of deadly force, particularly when public safety is at risk. The release of the bodycam footage aims to provide transparency and a clearer understanding of the events leading to the shooting.
