A Pennsylvania man accused of strangling his 71-year-old mother and threatening a neighbor was shot by police after the woman escaped to call for help, authorities said.
Background
The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon on the 4100 block of Heritage Lane in Lehigh Township, about 70 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Officers with the Lehigh Township Police Department responded around 3:50 p.m. to a report of a domestic incident between a man and an older woman, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The woman told investigators that her son choked her, threw her on the ground, and got on top of her before he allegedly went outside yelling and cursing, threatening a neighbor, regional news station WFMZ reported. There were no reports of injuries to the neighbor. During the commotion, the mother managed to escape, running to a neighbor's home to call 911.
The Investigation
When officers arrived at the home, they entered and a confrontation occurred between the 49-year-old man and police, according to a press release from Pennsylvania State Police. An officer used a Taser and also shot the suspect, authorities said. They have not released additional details about what led to the use of force.
Sean Deibert, 49, stands charged with strangulation, simple assault, and terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. He does not appear to have made his first appearance in court.
The woman was cared for at the scene and later told WFMZ she felt 'like I got run over by a bus.' Deibert was taken to a local hospital. Authorities did not provide an update on his or his mother's conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Sean Deibert, 49, faces charges of strangulation, simple assault, and terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another.
- The alleged attack occurred during a domestic incident at the family home in Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania.
- The victim escaped while her son threatened a neighbor and ran to call 911.
- A responding officer used a Taser and fired his weapon at Deibert after entering the residence.
- The investigation into the police-involved shooting is ongoing.
What's Next
Deibert remains hospitalized, and authorities have not released details on his condition or that of his mother. He has not yet made an initial court appearance. Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.