Westmoreland Hospital patient lunges at officer, attempts to take gun, spokesman says

A Westmoreland Hospital patient lunged at an officer and attempted to take his gun Thursday afternoon, according to Excela spokesman Tom Chakurda.

The man had been involved in several burglaries in the Greensburg area, Chakurda said. Police apprehended him and took him to Westmoreland Hospital’s Emergency Department for injuries he sustained during the burglaries.

Chakurda said while the patient was being assessed, he lunged at the officer and tried to take his gun. Chakurda said the man was unsuccessful.

Excela activated an “Active Shooter Code” when the situation began and called off the code when the patient had been restrained further, according to Chakurda.

South Greensburg police, who handled the case, would not release information Thursday night.