Accused killer fired into cop's body

PITTSBURGH, April 6 (UPI) -- Richard Poplawski fired extra bullets into the body of one of the three Pittsburgh police officers he allegedly killed last weekend, authorities say.

Court documents filed Sunday revealed that an unidentified neighbor told police that Poplawski, 22, stood over the body of Officer Stephen Mayhle, 29, and fired into him as he lay in the doorway of Poplawski's mother's home Saturday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.

In the documents, prosecutors allege that Mahyle and his partner, Paul Sciullo, were slain by Poplawski in an ambush when they went to the door of the Stanton Heights, Pa., house responding to complaint by Margaret Poplawski. A third officer was killed during the four-hour standoff and shoot-out that ensued.

Poplawski, who sustained bullet wounds to the legs, was arraigned in his hospital bed on homicide charges and by Monday was in the Allegheny County Jail, where he was being held without bond, the newspaper said, adding that he is set to appear at a preliminary court hearing Wednesday.

The three slain officers will lie in state Wednesday at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, to be followed the next day by a public memorial service, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.