Cops shoot and kill a math teacher, 49, after he ‘walked toward them waving a handgun before pointing it at an officer’ outside his Pittsburgh home following reports of erratic behavior
- Police in Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, got a 911 call Tuesday from a woman reporting her husband was behaving erratically and had access to guns
- When officers arrived, Penn Hills High School math teacher Donald Babbit, 49, came out of the house pointing a gun at them
- After Babbit refused to drop the gun, three officers opened fire, killing him
- Babbit had worked for the local school district for at least a decade and was remembered by colleagues and students as an outstanding math teacher
Police in Pennsylvania shot and killed math teacher Donald Babbit, 49, after they say he pointed a gun at officers
Police in a Pittsburgh suburb shot and killed a math teacher who they say pointed a gun at them outside his home on Tuesday.
Allegheny County Police say Shaler Township officers responded to an address in the 800 block of the Spencer Grove Lane shortly after 3pm after receiving a 911 call from a woman saying her husband was behaving erratically.
The wife was outside and told officers her spouse, 49-year-old Donald Babbit, had access to firearms.
Police surrounded the property and ordered Babbit to come out of the house.
When the man emerged from his residence, he allegedly ignored repeated commands to surrender as he advanced while pointing a handgun at the officers.
Three officers opened fire, mortally wounding Babbit. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4pm, reported Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Neighbors told WPXI they heard a barrage of more than a dozen gunshots. The officers were said to be unharmed.
Officers responded to Babbit’s home in the 800 block of the Spencer Grove Lane in Shaler Township on Tuesday afternoon after getting a 911 call from his wife
Babbit’s wife said he was behaving erratically and had access to weapons
Babbit, a married father-of-two (pictured with his children), allegedly refused to drop his weapon after officers responded to his home for a domestic dispute
All of the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, per department protocol.
Babbit had taught math in the Penn Hills School District for at least a decade. The district said in a message he was a ‘beloved’ staff member and had ‘the distinct reputation among students, families and colleagues as being an exceptional teacher. He will be missed.’
Social media posts suggest he had two children, a son and daughter.
Grief counselors will be available in the Penn Hills High School cafeteria between Wednesday and Friday.
‘It’s a terrible day for Penn Hills,’ school board president Erin Vecchio said. ‘My sympathy goes out to his family. He was a great teacher and it’s very sad for the community.’
Penn Hills Athletics sent out a tweet paying tribute to Babbit, saying ‘he was an incredible math teacher, golf coach, and colleague. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and ability to connect with his students.’
Babbit had taught at Penn Hill High School for at least a decade; he was remembered by colleagues and students as a beloved educator
Many former students took to social media to express shock in response to Babbit’s violent death and mourn his passing.
‘Regardless of the circumstances this is absolutely heart breaking… He was the only teacher who could effectively make me understand math,’ one student posted on Facebook. ‘He was my homeroom teacher in 7th grade and was a great person and teacher, he will be truly missed by many. Prayers for the family, friends and students.’
Another wrote: ‘He was my Math teacher back in high school. What a tragedy and he will surely be missed by everyone who had him as a teacher.’