US: Fight over urinating dog led to police deaths
06 Apr 2009 1:57 AM
PITTSBURGH, April 5 AP - An ambush that resulted in the shooting deaths of three Pittsburgh policemen was precipitated by an emergency call from the gunman's mother over a dog urinating in the house.
According to court papers, Richard Poplawski and his mother argued about his dog's accident on Saturday morning, prompting her to threaten to evict him and to call police.
Police have charged the 23-year-old Poplawski with killing three officers and attempting to kill nine others during a four-hour siege.
Poplawski has been arraigned in a local hospital where he's recovering from gunshot wounds to his legs.
Police say Poplawski was heavily armed and wearing a bulletproof vest when he killed the first two officers on sight. His mother opened the door for police, saw the shootings and then fled to the basement.
