HollyMatkinHarrisburg, PA – Police have released the identity of the man who opened fire on police vehicles in multiple locations in Pennsylvania’s capital on Friday afternoon.
Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty, 51, was killed by police after he led officers on a pursuit, WHTM reported.
“There’s no doubt he was directly targeting police officers,” Daupin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said.
Investigators are working to determine whether this was an act of terrorism. Authorities said that El-Mofty had “ties to the Middle East” and had “recently traveled to the Middle East.”
Marsico said the gunman was traveling southbound at approximately 4:10 p.m. on Dec. 22 when he fired multiple rounds at a northbound Capitol Police vehicle while the two were in “close proximity.”
El-Mofty’s bullets struck the patrol car, but did not injure the police officer.
Thirty minutes later, the shooter opened fire on a Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) trooper, Marsico told WGAL.
“She was struck by one of their shots, but is doing well, in good condition,” he said.
El-Mofty then “chased” the trooper to another area of the city, where additional officers from the Harrisburg Police Department (HPD) and PSP intervened, Marsico explained.
“He approached them with two guns, two handguns, which we believe are 9mm handguns, firing many shots at those police officers,” he said. “They fired back, striking and killing him.”
No other officers were injured in the gunfire, WGAL reported.
There were reports that El-Mofty also opened fire on a Capitol Area Transit bus, but WHTM reported that investigators did not confirm that.
Police also found a suspected explosive device near the area where the gunman was killed, but investigators have since confirmed that the item was not a threat.
“I want to thank members of the FBI, members of the Pennsylvania State Police, the criminal investigation division of the District Attorney’s Office, Harrisburg Police, ATF, and practically every police agency in Daupin County that responded,” Marsico said.
“The great work of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Harrisburg Police Department ended this threat rapidly this afternoon,” he said. “This could have been a really tragic incident…”
Marsico encouraged anyone with information about the shooter to contact investigators.