West Chester man faces attempted murder charges for shooting at police during mental health incident.
A 24-year-old West Chester man, William McGillan Jr., has been charged with attempted murder following a violent incident at his residence on South Church Street. The situation unfolded over the weekend when police were called to the scene to assist McGillan during a reported mental health crisis. Court documents reveal that McGillan, allegedly armed with a Ruger .380 handgun registered in his name, fired at police officers responding to the situation around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Initial reports indicated that McGillan exhibited suicidal tendencies, prompting an Uber driver to contact authorities for a welfare check. When officers arrived shortly after 9 a.m., they engaged with McGillan for approximately ten minutes, ultimately leaving without any immediate escalation. However, hours later, a follow-up request for assistance came from the Valley Creek Crisis Center, urging law enforcement to help with an involuntary commitment for McGillan.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, upon answering the door to police officers, McGillan retreated into his apartment and opened fire at West Chester Police Sgt. David Hammond and Cpl. Andrew Hill. In the ensuing chaos, Sgt. Hammond sustained a head injury while seeking cover, yet remarkably, none of the officers or McGillan were directly hit by gunfire during the exchange.
As the situation escalated, McGillan fled to the roof of his building, traversing across neighboring rooftops. During his flight, he discarded his firearm, which was later recovered by investigators. The incident was documented via the officers’ body cameras, and the footage is currently part of an ongoing investigation led by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
McGillan remains in custody with bail denied, as a judge determined he poses a significant risk to himself and the community. No legal representation has been noted for him at this time. A preliminary hearing is set to take place this Friday, offering further clarity on the specifics of the case. Anyone with pertinent information is encouraged to contact the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation into this incident remains active, raising critical questions about mental health intervention protocols and the responses of law enforcement during such crises. As authorities continue to piece together the events of the day, community members are left to grapple with the implications of this alarming situation.
