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Pa. cop shot man holding underwear, mistaken for gun

A man naked from the waist-down raised his hands while holding a dark object, the officer shot the man in the shoulder

Associated Press

ALTOONA, Pa. — A Pennsylvania prosecutor says an officer was justified in shooting a man he thought was armed in a dark alley, even though it turned out he had only a pair of black underwear in his hand.

Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio did not name the Altoona police officer or the man he wounded.

Consiglio says the officer was on patrol at about 4:30 a.m. April 8 when he was confronted by the man, who was naked below the waist except for his shoes.

The prosecutor says the man raised his hands while holding a dark object the officer thought was a gun. The officer then shot the man in the shoulder.

The man’s current condition hasn’t been released. A message was left with Consiglio.

Neither the officer nor the wounded man is being charged.

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