Police Officer Shooting In Pittsburgh

Trial arguments wrap up in fatal East Hills shootout

When three young men went to an East Hills apartment on July 11, 2010, planning to rob the people there of drugs and money, they should have known the possible ramifications.

"You go to somebody's house and kick the door in, you sign up for precisely what happened," said Assistant District Attorney Ilan Zur, noting the robbers were armed with an assault rifle and at least two pistols.

What happened, he told the jury during closing arguments Wednesday before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel, was a shootout with police that ended with the death of Arika Hainesworth.

Amir Ferguson, Tyree Gaines and Richard Woodward are on trial this week, charged with homicide, robbery, burglary and related charges.

Ms. Hainesworth, who hid upstairs during the home invasion along with her 8-year-old son, called police just after 3 a.m.

Pittsburgh police Officer Steven Sywyj was the first person to arrive. As he approached the apartment, he saw three suspects standing in the woman's doorway -- one of them armed with an assault rifle.

The officer thought he saw the armed man raise the gun toward him, but before Officer Sywyj could raise his own weapon and take a shot, the three men retreated into the apartment. As the officer followed, he said, the men fled up the steps and then started to fire out a bedroom window.

In response, Officer Sywyj started firing into the ceiling above him.

Ms. Hainesworth was killed as she tried to get away from the apartment.

During the course of the trial, Mr. Ferguson's defense attorney, Randall McKinney, admitted that it was his client who fired the shots out the window and who killed Ms. Hainesworth.

But during his closing argument, Mr. McKinney said it was Officer Sywyj who created the deadly atmosphere in the apartment.

"He upped the ante. He ratcheted up the violence."

And as a result, Mr. Ferguson responded.

"He was shooting because he was being shot at. Additionally, because he was 19 years old. Because he signed on to commit a robbery. Because he was in over his head. Because he was scared," Mr. McKinney said.

Clairton police officer stays positive as he recovers from shooting ...

-->

An injured Clairton police officer once thought to be paralyzed said he's regaining strength and feeling in his legs.

It's been more than four months since James Kuzak Jr. was injured in the line of duty.

He was shot five times responding to a home invasion on April 4 around 10:45 p.m. along the 800 block of Miller Avenue.

Kuzak was shot twice in his bulletproof vest, once in the forearm, once in the side and once just above his vest. His lung and spine were severely injured and he continues a long road to recovery at UPMC Mercy, the same hospital where he initially was transported as a result of the incident.

The law enforcement veteran with more than 15 years of experience in Peters Township, Homestead and Clairton said he's slowly getting better.

"We're progressing," Kuzak said Tuesday after a therapy session. "Small steps, you learn a little bit more each time you go. I can pretty much move my right leg where I need to right now without (electronic muscle) stimulation, still working hard on the left (leg)."

He said he can feel his toes and has increased strength in his quadriceps.

Kuzak has two days of moderate therapy and three days of physical therapy each week. Part of his therapy includes working out in a pool, which provides less resistance than on the ground. Exercises include pull-ups, chin-ups and abdominal work, in addition to walking and other strengthening motions.

He does all of this with a bullet in his lower back. No surgeries are planned to remove it at this time.

"We don't look too far ahead," Kuzak said. "We evaluate each week."

The James Kuzak Benefit Fund was established shortly after the April incident to help with medical bills and other expenses. There have been many fund-raising events in honor of Kuzak. The latest is a softball tournament slated for Sunday at Andrew Reilly Memorial Park along Route 885 in Jefferson Hills.

It is sponsored by the Jefferson Hills recreation board. Eight teams from the Jefferson Hills area will compete in a double-elimination tournament, with the first game beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the last game at 6:30 p.m.

In Cold Blood

Democracy in America

In defense of food, an eater's manifesto [additional copies -- 2]

Democracy in America

A Wrinkle in Time