ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A man shot and wounded by police, who were responding to a large street fight in an eastern Pennsylvania community, was armed with a replica handgun that was made to look like a .45-caliber handgun, authorities said.
Emmanuel Celestino-Mendez, 31, of Allentown, was charged with aggravated assault against a police officer and simple assault. He remained hospitalized Monday in critical condition but was expected to survive, authorities said.
The shooting in Allentown occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday. Police found a large number of people brawling and one person on the ground near a trail of blood after responding to reports of a fight.
Celestino-Mendez was seen holding a weapon and he refused officers’ orders to drop the weapon, authorities said. He soon fled to a porch and “still brandishing the handgun, rapidly turned toward” an officer, who opened fire. The officer was not injured.
The weapon Celestino-Mendez was holding was recovered at the scene, authorities said, noting it was an airsoft BB gun made to look like a .45-caliber Ruger handgun. They declined to identify the officer who shot Celestino-Mendez or provide further details on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.
It’s unclear if Celestino-Mendez has retained an attorney.
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