HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — We are learning more about a deadly officer involved shooting near Hazleton Wednesday.
State Police identified the man shot and killed by police as 23-year-old Jordan Charles Urenovitch from Hazle Township.
We learned just how dangerous the situation was inside the auto service garage here on North Church Street.
Eyewitness News spoke with two employees of the garage who say they and their 8-year-old granddaughter were only feet away from the shooting.
“It’s just overwhelming actually because it was so traumatic,” said Judie Minnick, an eyewitness.
Judie Minnick says she will never forget what unfolded before her eyes on Wednesday afternoon when members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tried to arrest 23-year-old Jordan Charles Urenovitch, he was wanted on outstanding warrants for drugs and weapons charges.
“He came in wanting an inspection then I believe they were U.S. Marshals. They came in and told him he was under arrest he struggled when the struggle ensued it took a turn to the bathroom, he took out a gun and shot at the police, and police returned fire,” explained Judie Minnick.
Minnick says her 8-year-old granddaughter was only feet away from the fight and gunfire.
“That’s going to make me cry..she did hear the gunshot but thank god she was mesmerized with her tablet but as soon as I knew what was going down we heard the gunshots because it all happened so fast. I just grabbed her and brought her out here to get her to safety,” Judie stated.
Her husband Ed who manages the garage says thoughts of what could have happened haunt him.,
“The most traumatic thing was my granddaughter was here.. she’s only eight years older. She was here having lunch with us that’s the major thing on my mind,” stated Ed.
Minnick says another thought keeps running through his mind.
“I mean the officers had no choice because if he would have got free with that gun god only knows how bad it could have been,” explained Ed.
Minnick showed us a search warrant given to him by State police as part of their investigation. In that warrant, police say that Urenovitch had made comments recently that he would use deadly force if law enforcement officers tried to arrest him.
The coroner says Urenovitch died from multiple gunshots.. the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office and the State Police Major Case Team are investigating. The D.A. will determine if the shooting was justified.