THORNDALE, Pa. — Authorities say a man was shot and wounded by a suburban Philadelphia police officer after ramming a police vehicle during a chase and threatening to shoot officers, although he turned out to be unarmed.
Richard Luminello, 56, from Philadelphia has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, theft, fleeing and eluding and other related charges following the incident.
The Chester County district attorney's office said police were told of a stolen vehicle from a Wawa parking lot in Downingtown shortly before 2 a.m. on Feb. 22.
Prosecutors said Luminello stole the car from the lot and fled into a residential neighborhood.
A Caln Township officer was trying to deploy stop strips to halt the stolen car, but as he was getting the strips from his police vehicle it was rammed head-on by the stolen vehicle at high speed and forced backward about 40 yards. Prosecutors said the officer had to dive out of the way and was showered by debris.
According to reports, the suspect then got out and started walking away, and when officers approached within 15 feet he stopped, turned to face them and threatened to shoot, holding his hands together and pointing them toward the officers.
One officer fired four times, striking Luminello in his right leg.
Prosecutors said the suspect then got up after being shot and continued to indicate that he was looking for a gun, and again made motions as if he had a firearm, but the officers were within arm's length and knew he wasn't armed.
They tried to de-escalate the situation, but when Luminello opened the door of the stolen car, an officer deployed a stun gun.
Luminello was taken to Paoli Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the thigh and an elbow fracture and was expected to be released soon.
