Pennsylvania suspect accused of shooting cop described as a 'danger' to community

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The Pennsylvania suspect who remained on the run Tuesday after allegedly shooting a police officer three times while handcuffed was described by police as a "danger to the community" with a history with law enforcement, reports say.

Koby Lee Francis, 22, has yet to be located following the brazen incident that unfolded outside of the McKeesport police station, near Pittsburgh, on Sunday afternoon. Video released by investigators shows Officer Gerasimos Athans opening the passenger side door of a cruiser parked outside the building and then staggering back after police said he took fire from within the vehicle.  

The footage then shows Francis emerging from the cruiser with hands handcuffed in front of him before firing at the officer again and fleeing. Athans, who suffered not life-threatening injuries, is expected to be discharged from a hospital in the coming days.

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"This is an armed suspect who is obviously dangerous. He fled still armed. There is a danger to the community," Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said Monday, according to KDKA. "We want it to end right here. We want this to be the last harm inflicted by that individual or any other individuals. That’s our primary concern."

McDonough also said that he is "very happy" that Athans – a 32-year-old officer who joined the department four years ago – is "going to be able to spend Christmas with his family rather than what could have been a very tragic event."

As for Francis, he previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation after being charged in a home invasion that happened in McKeesport in October 2017, according to WTAE.  

Citing court records, the TV station also reported that Francis pleaded guilty to a drug-related offense last year and was sentenced to six to 12 months of jail time followed by two years of probation. 

Sunday events unfolded after Francis was arrested and served a protection order. He was found parked outside a residence in violation of it and officers discovered a pistol inside his vehicle, police said. 

Koby Lee Francis is being sought after police say he shot an officer over the weekend. (Allegheny County District Attorney)

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"Obviously this was an egregious act on his part," McDonough said. "He went to this address in violation of a (protection from abuse order). He went there angry. He went there armed. I think that it’s in the community’s interest to help us to bring him in." 

McDonough said Francis "was searched, obviously" when he was arrested but "was able to secret a weapon and that was the weapon he used ... to shoot (the officer)." Video confirmed that he had been handcuffed with his hands in back of him, but he somehow managed to get his hands in front of him before his escape, McDonough said. 

After he was shot, the officer "emptied his weapon" in returning fire, but there was no evidence Francis was hit, McDonough said. 

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Francis was being sought on attempted homicide, escape, flight to avoid apprehension, aggravated assault and firearms charges.  

McDonough called the search for the fugitive, both locally and anywhere he might have fled, an "all hands on deck" effort that needed help from the community. 

Fox News’ Edmund DeMarche and the Associated Press contributed to this report.