Police Officer Justified in Deadly Shooting of Man in Allentown, DA Says

An Allentown police officer was justified when he shot and killed an armed man last month, the Lehigh County District Attorney announced.

On Thursday, District Attorney James Martin provided an update on the investigation of the deadly police-involved shooting of Xavier Arnold, 20, of Coplay, Pennsylvania. 

Martin said he reviewed the incident along with Chief County Detective Lou Tallarico and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Daniel Reagan. The investigators went through multiple reports from Allentown Police, attended Arnold's autopsy and also analyzed video, audio and pictures of the shooting, according to Martin. 

The ordeal began on Feb. 10 shortly after 8 p.m. along the 700 block of Linden Street in Allentown. Police officers were patrolling the area and spotted what appeared to be a fight involving two men and a woman, Martin said. One of the men, who investigators identified as Arnold, saw the officers and started jogging away, according to officials. 

Police said the other man and the woman then approached Allentown Police Officer Zane Struss' vehicle at the corner of 8th and Linden streets. The man told Officer Struss that Arnold had just pistol whipped him. The woman also told the officer that Arnold had a gun. The woman then called 911 and accused Arnold of assaulting her. Both the woman and man knew Arnold prior to the incident, according to investigators.

Officer Struss then spotted Arnold crossing Linden Street and jogging south on 8th Street, police said. After being unable to drive his car against one-way traffic, Officer Struss parked on 8th and Linden streets and began chasing Arnold on foot, investigators said. Multiple cameras captured the foot chase and other Allentown officers responded to the incident as it unfolded, Martin said. 

During the chase, Officer Struss told Arnold to drop his gun, but Arnold refused to comply, investigators said. Arnold then arrived at Maple Street, stopped running and turned to face Officer Struss, according to investigators.

"At no point did Arnold drop his gun; at no point did Arnold raise his hands or arms to indicate surrender; at no point did Arnold in any way comply with Struss' commands," Martin wrote. 

Investigators said Arnold aimed his gun toward Struss who aimed his own weapon back at Arnold. Both men then fired at each other, investigators said. 

Investigators still haven't determined who fired first, according to Martin. 

"The shots appear to start simultaneously," Martin said. 

Investigators said Arnold fired four shots, shooting Officer Struss once in the abdomen, as well as a passing vehicle and a storefront window on the west side of 8th Street, nearly striking multiple innocent bystanders in the area. 

The round went through Struss' shirt and damaged his bulletproof vest but didn't cause the officer any physical harm, investigators said.

Investigators said Officer Struss shot Arnold four times, striking him once in the right leg, once in the torso, once in the right eye and grazing the top of his head. 

Responding officers and medics performed CPR on Arnold who was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. 

Investigators recovered a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun from Arnold's left hand, Martin said. The slide of the Glock was locked open to the rear and the magazine was empty, indicating Arnold had fired until he was out of ammunition, according to investigators. 

Martin said Arnold was not legally permitted to possess a gun due to his prior criminal record. Arnold was on active parole for illegal possession of a different firearm at the time of the shooting, according to investigators. 

"After a thorough review of the relevant facts and the law, I have no hesitation in concluding that the actions of Officer Zane Struss on February 10, 2023, was completely justified," Martin said. "Additionally, I find no improper or questionable conduct by any other officer."