On Saturday, April 4 2009, an argument stemmed between a mother and son in Stanton Heights, Pittsburgh.  The mother phoned the police, and when they arrived for a routine disturbance call, 22 year old Richard Poplawski opened gun fire on the officers.
    Poplawski was armed with semi automatic AK-47 style rifle and two other guns, along with wearing a bullet proof vest.  After shooting five officers, two wounded and three dead, Poplawski held police at bay, waiting for a total of four hours.  While this stand-off occurred, Poplawski would not let other police officers attend and remove the injured and dead officers.
    Officers Eric Kelly, Stephen Mahle, and Paul Sciullo were the officers killed during the shoot out.  Although Poplawski's mother told the 911 operator that her son owned deadly weapons, the operator reported no weapons while relaying the information to unprepared officers.
    On April 21, Allegheny County District Attorney spokesperson reported that he will seek the death penalty for Poplawski, whose arraignment is set for June 1.  The District Attorney received multiple letters and petitions demanding the death penalty for Poplawski, totaling to over 35,000 demands.