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Man Fatally Shot By Police Accused Of Trying To Run Over Officers In Drexel Hill

By Todd Quinones

DREXEL HILL, Pa., (CBS) – A man was fatally shot by police after they say he tried to run over officers with his car in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.

Chopper 3 was over the scene Tuesday at Garrett Road and Shadeland Avenue.

According to police the suspect has a history of mental illness.

He allegedly posted videos on YouTube and threatened to kill police. He posted his last video minutes before he was shot and killed.

"This is my coming out party. So if you want to try and bring me down I will [expletive] kill you and your whole [expletive] family all right? So go ahead and [expletive] with me."

It's a series of rambling, hard to follow videos allegedly posted on YouTube by 52-year-old Joseph Pacini.

He allegedly threatens to kill police, his last video was posted 4 p.m. Tuesday.

By 5 p.m., he was dead.

He was shot several times by police in Drexel Hill after officers pulled him over.

"He threw the car in reverse. He ran into the Chief of Police car from Clifton and tried to run over several other officers who were around the car. At this time officers fired several shots," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

Haverford police had an arrest warrant out for Pacini because of alleged threats he made to one of its detectives.

On his YouTube channel, Pacini talks about his love of god and pop singer Sara Bareilles.

Officers went to his home in Clifton Heights Tuesday and followed him in his car as he drove to Drexel Hill. That's where officers pulled him over and boxed him in.

"He apparently used his vehicle as a weapon," Chitwood said.

As many as five officers from Clifton Heights, Upper Darby and Haverford opened fire, striking Pacini several times.

He died at the scene.

Bullets also hit the front glass door of a bank and a window to a nearby medical office.

No one else was injured.

The 52-year-old has a police record.

"In 2005 he was arrested for recklessly endangering another person, false imprisonment, terroristic threats in Philadelphia," Chitwood said.

No officers were injured during the shooting at Garrett Road and Shadeland Avenue in Drexel Hill.

 

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