Police shooting in Easton.

[jw34]

http://m.wfmz.com/lehigh-valley-regi...aston/29313572


EASTON, Pa. -
Cries for justice after a man is shot by police following a hot pursuit in Northampton County.

Officers opened fire on the Wilson man when officials say he failed to surrender and rammed a police cruiser.

He was later pronounced dead.

It happened early Friday morning in Easton at 13th and Spring Garden streets.

Richard Shuermann, 39, allegedly crashed his truck into this utility pole before twice ramming it into a police cruiser.

Multiple shots were fired by police and a knife was recovered from Shuermann's truck, police said.

County officials are still investigating along with State Police who've been assigned to the case.

But family members have their minds made up and they claim an innocent man was killed.

“They killed an innocent, they killed an innocent man. Go down there and video tape them.”

69 News viewers did tape them.

On those videos you could here police saying: "Get down on the ground. Get down on the ground now!!"

Our exclusive video captures police screams to surrender which were demands witnesses claim were directed at Shuermann following the chase,

The Wilson man allegedly prompted a pursuit in Palmer Township when he failed to pull over in a traffic stop.

Police claim the pickup driver was driving on the wrong side of the road and may have been drunk.

The chase escalated to Wilson Borough before it ended in Easton.

“The only thing I heard was the car hit that pole and then I came outside, I heard all them shots,” said Phil Hunter.

Investigators claim shots were fired by two officers--one from Easton, the other from Wilson Borough.

They say the officers opened fire after Shuermann slammed his truck into a cruiser.

"He never got out of the car. They ended up bringing him out the car when he was dead.”

But how Shuermann died remains unknown.

He sustained bullet and knife wounds.

"He also sustained a self-inflicted wound to the neck, which touched the carotid artery, and resulted in extensive bleeding," said Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli.

Morganlli says an autopsy and toxicology report are pending.

The identities of the officers who opened fire haven't been released.

[Hodgie]

So Easton is crying for justice? Seemed pretty quiet earlier tonight when I drove through. I can see a new trend emerging every time a low life gets himself killed and if it keeps up its going to end badly.

[wakefield724]

Richard Sherman shot dead?!? Seattle Seahawks are going to be going through rough times ahead

[Exbiker]

Details right now are sketchy, truth from Morganelli will be a pipe dream. At one point it was called a low speed pursuit.
No weapon and conflicting reports about the throat slitting. The whole thing sounds fishy. The guy has a troubling past but by the same token once you get a reputation even if you try and clean up police lean on you.

[Exbiker]

If you look at the minor damage on the police car shown it looks like it was a failed pit maneuver.

[McSull]

More info needed. Stab wounds? Self inflicted?



However, this will probably get moved to the lounge.

[McSull]

If you look at the minor damage on the police car shown it looks like it was a failed pit maneuver.

Yeah, I've seen more damage from a scooter hitting the fender on an Audi. That truck would have made a lot bigger dent. Maybe there's another dented cruiser not shown on the video.

[stainless]

I saw the info on my phone at work the other night and put 69 News on when I got home that morning. Haven't seen any updates yet, though.

[G17-5291]

"Just turning his life around"

They always are.

[jw34]

"Just turning his life around"

They always are.

I'm sure he was a "good boy" , even while he was trying to run over cops. That was just a misunderstanding. He probably intended to stop the vehicle just short of their kneecaps.