BERWICK -- A police officer was injured after gunfire in Berwick Monday afternoon.
The Columbia County district attorney said a man opened fire on officers and was injured himself when police returned fire.
It happened at the Berwick Industrial Development Association.
"I don't know what happened. I guess a guy just went crazy and started shooting."
Onlookers at the industrial site in Berwick could only wonder why a man opened fire, first into the air then at responding police officers.
Mary Defrain's husband works at a building in the site and she rushed out.
"So I got scared and came out here and checked on him," she said.
Investigators say around 2:30 p.m. Monday, James Calderone, 35, of Salem Township drove to the park where he works, crashed his vehicle near building 93, then got out and shot his gun into the air and at a coworker.
"My husband [heard gunshots]. Everybody over there at the plant heard it and those machines are loud," said Defrain.
When Berwick police arrived, Calderone fired his gun at them several times. One officer was injured when a bullet struck a utility tower, sending a piece of metal flying into his temple. The Berwick police chief said the officer is fine.
The chief says one of his officers then fired at the man and shot him several times. He was flown to a hospital.
"It's unfortunate that a subject put our police officers in a position where they had to use deadly force for a second time in just a few months, but I'm very proud of the effort put forth by the officers of this police department. They reacted bravely. They responded to the threat of live fire," said Berwick Police Chief Ken Strish.
Investigators say Calderone was involved in a domestic dispute sometime prior to coming to the industrial site and the Columbia County district attorney says the man had both a handgun on him and an assault rifle.
"I know there's some speculation out there from people on the scene as to why Mr. Calderone acted that way, but we're still trying to piece that all together through interviews and determine why he decided to come there today and take this course of action," said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper David Peters.
The district attorney says one employee took a picture of Calderone's car after the crash. It shows him standing behind his car and a woman standing behind him.
The district attorney said Calderone was heard saying he wished to die during the shootout.
The Berwick police chief said the shooting is being investigated by the district attorney and state police, but he feels confident it will be found to be justified.
State police said Calderone is still in the hospital, but is expected to live. Charges against him are pending.
