Harrisburg made global headlines last night .. a gunman was on the loose through the state Capitol, near government buildings and shopping centers. The target of his shots: Police.
Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico identified the shooter as 51-year-old Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty at a news conference late Friday night. Though details about El-Mofty are being unraveled by investigators, Marsico said it “certainly appears that there’s no doubt” he was targeting police officers.
The police response to last night’s turmoil in the city was dramatic and fast. The local media response was just as quick, with stations using Facebook live to update the thousands of live viewers who were following the situation..
Today police are asking anyone with knowledge of El-Mofty to contact them with information..
While there are pieces of information that the shooter had ties to the Middle East, there has not been any official declaration that this is a terrorist issue at this time..
Governor Tom Wolf issued this statement following the events:
“I am grateful for the swift reaction to this incident by Capitol Police, Pennsylvania State Police and City of Harrisburg Police. Our officers were directly in harm’s way but they did not hesitate and protected others from harm. This is another reminder of the sacrifice made everyday by law enforcement across Pennsylvania, especially for those of us who spend time in our State Capitol. On behalf of all Pennsylvanians, Frances and I thank the fine men and women of these departments.”