HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that the newly formed Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force made its first significant investigation and arrest. A Pittsburgh man has been charged with the attempted murder of three police officers, marking a critical development in the fight against gun violence.
Bruce Harvard, 24, was arrested on Tuesday by agents from the Office of the Attorney General, working alongside Allegheny County police and local law enforcement officers. The arrest took place on Spring Street, where a search warrant was executed.
Harvard was wanted for allegedly shooting at two agents and a task force officer in an incident that took place a year ago in Stowe Township. Another individual, Eric Durah, 25, is also facing charges related to the same incident. The men are accused of opening fire on officers who were attempting to conduct a vehicle stop.
During the search of the Spring Street residence, law enforcement officers recovered a stolen Springfield XDS .45 caliber pistol, seven bricks of heroin/fentanyl, 5.5 grams of crack cocaine, and $985 in cash.
Harvard was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon on 23 charges, including three counts of attempted murder, multiple counts of felony aggravated assault, and other charges related to the February 2023 incident. Due to what the presiding district judge described as Harvard’s “threat to the community,” he was incarcerated without bail.
Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed her satisfaction with the progress of the Task Force, stating, “These crimes shook the core of this community. Attempts to kill law enforcement officers are not only direct threats to the lives of the officers involved, but to the principles of law and order that keep neighborhoods safe.”
The Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force was launched in February as a collaborative network targeting illegal firearm purchases and transfers and the violent crimes that often result from these transactions. The Task Force represents a formalization and expansion of partnerships between the Office of the Attorney General, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Police Department, and other local, state, and federal agencies.
The investigation into who else may have been involved in the shooting incident is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed. Other individuals at the Spring Street residence were taken into custody during Tuesday’s operation.
Despite these charges, it is important to remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case will be prosecuted by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates on this developing story.
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