Neighbor who called 911 to Canonsburg home says ambushed officers ‘didn't have a chance'

CANONSBURG, Pa. — Kyle DeMarino told Channel 11 News that he never expected his 911 call early Wednesday morning would result in the death of his next-door neighbor and a Canonsburg police officer.

Police said Officer Scott Bashioum was killed and Officer James Saieva was wounded in an ambush-style shooting. The alleged gunman, Michael Cwiklinski, killed his pregnant wife, Dalia Sabae, before killing himself, investigators said.

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DeMarino, who lived next-door to the married couple with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, said that about 3 a.m. Wednesday, he heard Sabae screaming and pleading for her life, so he called 911. He said he was looking out a front window when bullets began to fly.

“The minute (the officer) stepped onto the grass here, he opened fire on him. So the policeman didn't even know what was coming. He didn't expect it. He got shot immediately. It was horrible, you know. He didn't have a chance,” DeMarino said.

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DeMarino choked up as he spoke about seeing Bashioum walk straight into an ambush.

“We were looking out the bedroom window. We (saw) them get shot, go down. That's when my wife grabbed the baby and got back into the bathroom. The center of the house kind of protected (us) from bullets that might be flying,” he said.

Cox Media Group