Man Killed After Pointing Gun At Police In 2-Hour Standoff In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A man was killed after pointing a gun at police officers following a two-hour standoff Friday night, authorities said.

Bensalem Police said a driver who was pulled over during a traffic stop for a vehicle code violationnear the intersection of Route 1 and Old Lincoln Highway at 3:50 p.m. Friday would not cooperate, leading to the standoff in which Pennsylvania State Police and Philadelphia Police were involved.

No police officers or bystanders were injured during the standoff, police said.

The unnamed driver told police that he was armed and that he was not going back to jail. Officers attempted to communicate, get him to exit the vehicle, and de-escalate the situation.

After about 45 minutes, the driver fled from police, and officers gave chase. The car was forced to stop as police boxed it in.

After police surrounded the vehicle and ordered the driver and passenger out, both occupants refused to comply. Officers again engaged the driver, but after two hours of negotiations, both occupants remained non-compliant.

Bensalem SWAT officers deployed tear gas in an attempt to get the occupants to exit the vehicle.

The driver then lifted a handgun and pointed it at officers.

Officers fired shots at the driver before pulling him out of the vehicle and performing life-saving measures. The driver was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The passenger of the vehicle was taken into custody and was unharmed.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is now leading the investigation. The District Attorney will have no further comments and will not release the names of any parties involved at this time.

The Bensalem Township Police Department has placed the officers involved in this shooting on administrative leave per policy. They will remain on leave until the Bucks County District Attorney's Office completes its investigation.