Off-duty police officer killed in Blawnox after Route 28 road rage incident

An apparent road rage incident led to the shooting death of an off-duty Oakdale police officer Sunday night in Blawnox, according to Allegheny County Police.

Police said Charles G. “Chuckie” Stipetich died after he was shot by Kevin McSwiggen in the 400 block of Fountain Street.

Stipetich was 23, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. A GoFundMe.com page has been set up to assist the family with expenses.

McSwiggen, 40, of Pittsburgh has been charged with criminal homicide and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, court documents show. An arrest warrant was issued and McSwiggen was under police guard until his release to the Allegheny County Jail, police said.

Police said they responded around 10:35 p.m. when they heard two gunshots. Stipetich’s father, Charles P. Stipetich, waved them down and said his son had been shot, according to a criminal complaint. Officers found Stipetich in the road bleeding from a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died.

While officers were tending to him, they heard the father say, “He shot my son.”

Officers then saw a man, later identified as McSwiggen, sitting in a Ford pickup parked in the middle of Fountain Street. McSwiggen had a gunshot wound to his left bicep and armpit. Officers secured a handgun in his possession.

Before McSwiggen was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland, police heard him say he was involved in a road rage incident on Route 28 and “that the guy cut him off so McSwiggen followed him to Fountain Street,” according to the complaint.

McSwiggen told police he got into an altercation with Stipetich and there was a shooting, according to court papers.

A camera mounted in McSwiggen’s truck showed him driving north on Freeport Road. A red Ford Taurus was seen in the video passing McSwiggen’s truck on the left. McSwiggen honked his horn and said, “Aw (expletive) it. I’ll just put the high beams on, I don’t care,” according to court papers.

He then said, “I’ll be more than happy to (expletive) around with you like this. Oh, I should just cut you up. Oh, I should just cut you,” according to court papers.

When the Taurus made a right turn onto Jackson Street, McSwiggen said, “No, (expletive) this,” according to court papers.

The truck then turned right on Jackson Street and followed the car onto Fountain Street, according to the video referenced in court papers. McSwiggen parked his truck behind the Taurus on the right side of the street.

Stipetich was seen getting out of his car and was walking toward his house when he was approached by McSwiggen. The men began to argue, and Stipetich repeatedly told McSwiggen to leave. Stipetich’s father then appeared in the video and was seen getting between the men. The three men left the frame, and a gunshot could be heard.

Stipetich’s father and McSwiggen were wrestling when they appeared back in the frame. Stipetich walks back in the frame and lifts up his shirt, apparently checking his wound.

McSwiggen pointed his gun at Stipetich’s father when Stipetich pulls a gun from his waistband and shot McSwiggen, according to the video referenced in court papers.

McSwiggen left the frame and the Stipetich can be seen falling to the ground.

Charles P. Stipetich told police he received a call from his son at 10:19 p.m. telling him he was being followed. His son called him again at 10:23 p.m. and said, “I’m here, help.”

Charles P. Stipetich ran out of the house and saw his son arguing with a man and heard him say “I’ll (expletive) kill you” to his son.

Stipetich’s parents both say they saw McSwiggen shoot their son.

Oakdale Borough put a statement on their Facebook page mourning the loss of Stipetich.

“Although he was only with the Oakdale Police Department for a short amount of time, his desire and spirit for community service and police work was a beacon of light,” the post reads. “We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends, and all that cared for him. May his memories be a blessing.”