Woman with gun shot by trooper
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP, Lawrence County — A New Castle woman who was wounded in an officer-involved shooting Monday morning in a rural area near the Lawrence-Butler County line has been charged with threatening troopers with a gun.
No one else was injured in the shooting shortly after 9:10 a.m. in the area of Copper Road in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County.
Maria C. Rozzi, 55, who was taken to a hospital following the shooting, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and harassment, state police said.
The extent of Rozzi’s injuries and her condition were not immediately known.
A domestic dispute at a home on or near Copper Road apparently precipitated the incident, investigators said. A man said Rozzi was living at his house for the past several weeks, and they had gotten into a verbal argument, according to a police report.
The man reported that the woman had left his home “on foot and (she) was in possession of a handgun,” the report said.
Two troopers found the suspect on Copper Road. They got out of their police car and ordered her to show her hands. They said she displayed a handgun.
“(Rozzi) refused to obey the troopers’ commands,” the report said. “Troopers discharged their firearms at (the woman) striking her once (and) ending the threat.”
Police did not immediately say where Rozzi was struck by the gunfire.
The Slippery Rock Township Volunteer Fire Department was called at 9:18 a.m. to assist. Firefighters set up a landing zone for a medical helicopter at a nearby ballfield at Old Princeton and Copper roads. Noga Ambulance also assisted at the scene.
Crews said Rozzi was reportedly flown to St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital in Youngstown.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Troop D Major Case Team.
