Three Policemen Shot in Pittsburgh

US News | Sat, Apr 4, 2009 at 11:34:41 am PDT

Today in Pittsburgh, three police officers were murdered during a domestic disturbance call by a 23-year old man who reportedly feared that Barack Obama would ban guns.

Police did not immediately release the gunman’s identity, but his friends identified him as Richard Poplawski, 23. They described him as a young man who thought the Obama administration would ban guns.

One friend, Edward Perkovic, said Poplawski feared “the Obama gun ban that’s on the way” and “didn’t like our rights being infringed upon.” Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said Poplawski feared that President Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he “wasn’t violently against Obama.”

Perkovic, a 22-year-old who said he was Poplawski’s best friend, said he got a call at work from him in which he said, “Eddie, I am going to die today. ... Tell your family I love them and I love you.”