Greensburg policeman recalls chaotic scene at hospital as suspect lunged for officer's gun

A Greensburg policeman said the scene was frantic as he ran into the emergency room at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg upon hearing reports there was a man with a gun inside.

“There were about 20 to 25 people all in hospital scrubs — hospital staff — running out, saying there was a guy in there with a gun,” patrolman Garret McNamara testified at a hearing Thursday.

Cory J. Lonsinger, 30, attempted to grab the handgun of South Greensburg police Officer Todd Brant as Lonsinger was being discharged from the hospital May 5, McNamara testified. Lonsinger was being treated for a foot injury suffered during his arrest on burglary charges hours earlier.

Lonsinger, Brant and Southwest Greensburg Officer Steve Zyvith fell to the floor during the struggle for the gun, and Brandt radioed city police for help at 6:35 p.m.

McNamara said as he and other responding officers entered the hospital room, they heard Lonsinger yelling, “Give me your gun. … I want your gun.”

Lonsinger had his hand on the grip of Brant’s gun, but the officers were able to subdue him and put him back in handcuffs, McNamara said.

Brant’s testimony

During a prior escape attempt by Lonsinger hours earlier, his foot was injured. Brant testified he and Zyvith restrained Lonsinger in handcuffs attached to bedrails while he was treated at the hospital.

“We got clearance from the staff that he was released from the hospital and we could take him to prison,” Brant said.

Brant testified that, as Brant and Zyvith began unlocking Lonsinger’s handcuffs, Lonsinger began struggling, punching him twice and slamming him into a wall while reaching for his holstered gun.

Brant testified that all three fell to the floor and were scuffling, “and I felt tugging on my holster.”

“(Lonsinger) was yelling, ‘I have your gun. I’m going to shoot you,’ Brant testified.

Brant said Lonsinger was yelling so loud that “everybody in the emergency room could hear it.”

When the city officers arrived, it took “four, five or possibly even six of us” to get Lonsinger under control and handcuff him again, Brant said.

Bail reduction denied

After hearing testimony, Greensburg District Judge Chris Flanigan ordered Lonsinger to stand trial on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, disarming a law enforcement officer, escape, resisting arrest and terroristic threats.

Lonsinger, who was represented by public defender John Sweeney, pleaded not guilty.

Flanigan denied a request by Lonsinger’s attorney to reduce his $175,000 bond.

“After hearing the testimony here today, I’m going to deny him bond now,” Flanigan said.

Another hearing Friday

Lonsinger lists a Johnstown address but has lived in the Greensburg and Latrobe areas, according to court records.

He has a hearing scheduled Friday before Youngwood District Judge Scott Fanchalsky on two burglary complaints stemming from his initial arrest May 5. He is accused of burglarizing two residences in South Greensburg.

Lonsinger was paroled in July after serving time in a state prison for robbing a Latrobe convenience store in 2019, according to court records.