Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt

ST. CLAIR TWP. — A child is dead and a St. Clair Township police officer is in critical condition following a shooting in the Calcutta area Wednesday afternoon.

Police Chief Brian McKenzie said officers responded to a reported suicidal man around 2 p.m. The man, identified as 30-year-old Jospeh Como, fired at officers when approached, resulting in a shootout, during which one officer and a 4-year-old child at a nearby private business were struck and Como was injured. Como has died from his injuries, according to the police department’s official Facebook page.

The St. Clair Township officer was responsive after he was shot and flown to a Pittsburgh area hospital in critical condition. The child was also flown to an unknown hospital where she ultimately died, according to the police department’s official Facebook page. Officers administered first aid to the suspect prior to EMS arrival.

“We’re trying to gather information as fast as we can so we can update the community,” McKenzie said. “Right now, we need the community to pray for our officer and the child who were shot.”