HARRISBURG, Pa. — Officials say that a woman and child were rescued and a man is missing after a car got stuck in the Susquehanna River and a shots fired incident unfolded.
According to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, crews responded to the river below the Dock Street Dam in Harrisburg around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 for a car that went off the road into the water.
Authorities say that a man, woman, and child inside the vehicle crawled onto the roof of the car via the sunroof.
Upon arrival, police say that the man, later identified as Miguel Maldonado, 36, was holding the woman at knifepoint, and she appeared to have already suffered a wound.
Chardo said that Maldonado was allegedly yelling, "shoot me, shoot me!" to authorities.
Authorities say that after what was described as an extensive effort to diffuse the situation, Maldonado attempted to cut the woman.
At that point, police shot four times in the direction of Maldonado.
Chardo says that authorities are not sure if Maldonado was hit by any of the shots because he fell into the river.
Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline says crews used the boom of a firetruck to rescue the woman and child, similar to how they would rescue people from a burning build, though continued saying the endeavor wasn't safe or easy.
According to Enterline, during the rescue the river was high, icy, and had a significant current, putting crews in a "precarious situation." Enterline continued saying the 20-30 minute rescue was extremely complex.
Enterline says due to dangerous conditions on the river on Monday crews have been pulled back from the search for Maldonado.
The woman was treated for her injuries at a local hospital, while officials said the child was not believed to be injured.