Police officer involved in three shootings in less than a year

PITTSBURGH — Channel 11 has learned a Pittsburgh police officer was involved in three shootings in less than a year.

All of the shootings happened over the last 10 months.

Mark Daniels was killed in the most recent shooting, earlier this month in Homewood.

Police said Daniels fired at them first.

Some community activists tell Channel 11 this is not only alarming, but should raise a number of red flags to Pittsburgh police and the community.

"The fact that the officer discharged his weapons so many times in such a short period of time should be questionable even to leadership. It's not normal for an officer to fire his weapon in their entire career, let alone in three months," said Brandi Fisher, who is part of the Alliance for Police Accountability.

A spokesperson with the city confirms Gino Macioce is on paid administrative leaving pending the outcome of the investigation by county police.

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"The fact that he's been involved in other shootings may or may not be relative.  It's another piece of evidence in a case that has many versions of what happened.  We are evaluating all of the evidence," said attorney Tim O'Brien, who represents the family of Mark Daniels.

Court documents show Macioce was involved in two more shootings.

“Anytime you have an officer involved in a shooting, there is something that was very serious that needs to be looked at -- if protocol was being followed. And in the two previous cases, it appears that the officers’ actions followed the proper protocol,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

Peduto says the previous two shootings were investigated and the officer followed procedures.

In both cases, police say the suspect pulled a gun on macioce. Both suspects survived.

“Officer Macioce is a professional police officer who always acts reasonably and in the interest of the safety of himself, his fellow officers, the citizens of the city of Pittsburgh and the suspects who have tried to harm him with deadly physical force,” said Police Union President Bob Swartzwelder.

Swartzwelder said in one of the shootings, Macicoe administered aid and likely saved the suspect's life.

Peduto said police have reached out to the Daniels family.

“We are cooperating completely with the county, any info they need. We reached out to the family. We have sat down with the family in order to be able to ask them what they're looking for and to provide them direct contact with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police on info that we can provide them,” Peduto said.

The FOP said officer Maciocie is a professional who always acts reasonably in the interest of safety.

Cox Media Group