38-year-old Stanley Eugene West has been named and charged in connection with the Pittsburgh shooting incident that killed Indian-origin motel manager Rakesh Ehagaban on Friday (US time).

On October 3, the Allegheny County Police Department shared an update on the homicide investigation in Robinson Township, revealing that West had been charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and recklessly endangering another person. He continues to be in the hospital following a gunfire exchange with the authorities at the scene.

“County Police and Pittsburgh Police were involved in an officer-involved shooting in connection with a homicide investigation in Robinson Township,” stated the original release shared on Facebook. Officials said that County 9-1-1 were informed about a shooting in 4200 block of Steubenville Pike in Robinson Township at 1:04 pm local time that day.

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Stanley West reportedly killed Rakesh Ehagaban and injured a woman in US motel shooting

The shooting incident on Friday not only led to the death of the Indian-origin motel manager, but also resulted in injuries of West’s “female companion.” The yet-to-be-identified woman was shot at in a motel parking lot during after an argument. She is said to have fled to a nearby business while seeking help.

During the course of the events, Ehagaban is said to have come to see what was happening. It was then that the suspect shot him in the head, leading to his death at the scene.

As per the TRIBLive’s report, the Indian-origin victim in his early 50s was shot right after he asked the gun-wielding man coming up to him, “Are you alright, bud?” A criminal complaint filed Saturday said, “As (West) gets within feet of Ehagaban, he raised his firearm and shoots him in the head.”

Meanwhile, the woman, who was shot in the neck as she was sitting in a car, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. A child passenger was also in the car at the time of the incident. However, the kid fortunately remained uninjured.

The report went on to detail the incident, saying that the woman, who had been staying at the motel with the child for about two weeks, was moving towards the exit as West approached her black sedan in a van. After coming up to her side door, he is said to have shot at the car, which shattered the driver’s door window. All the noisy ruckus in the parking lot ultimately drew Ehagaban out.

Police further revealed that the Pittsburgh shooting suspect was yet another motel resident. He is also linked with a residence on Page Street in Pittsburgh.

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Shooting between officer and Pittsburgh gunman Stanley West

According to Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns, West fled the scene in a U-Haul van. Officers eventually located it in the 2200 block of Wilner Drive in the East Hills. Cops approached the vehicle around 2:30 pm on Friday, prompting a shooting showdown between the parties involved.

Kearns said that the suspect came out of the van and opened gunfire at police detectives, who ultimately responded the same way. In the aftermath, Stanley West and an officer were injured. Although the cop struck in the leg was stable, the suspect was in critical condition, as per initial reports.

In a statement to KDKA-TV, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police shared, “The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detective injured by gunfire during the critical incident in East Hills on Friday is resting comfortably at home with his family and with the full support of his fellow officers and the Bureau.”

While emphasising on the family’s need for privacy at the time, officials thanked the doctors and nurses at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and local law enforcement partners for their swift response.