Search fatalities

John Ebberts

Age : 35

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/24/2021

Location : 300 block West Jefferson Street

City : Butler City

County : Butler

State : Pennsylvania

Agency : Butler City Police Department

Officer(s) :Michael E. Sulerud Jr.

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during physical altercation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/24/2021, shortly before 7:00 a.m., Butler City Police Department officers were dispatched to the 300 block of West Jefferson Street after a 911 caller reported a man behaving erratically and repeatedly moving in and out of traffic. The man was 35-year-old Butler resident John Ebberts. Later police-killing databases categorized the original call as a mental health/welfare-check encounter.
Patrol Officer Michael E. Sulerud Jr. responded and encountered Ebberts shortly after arriving. According to the Pennsylvania State Police investigation, a physical struggle began between the two men. Police said Ebberts had a knife and stabbed Sulerud multiple times during the struggle. Sulerud then drew his department-issued firearm and opened fire, killing Ebberts.
A civilian witness, George Schmidt, gave a more detailed account of the immediate aftermath. Schmidt said he saw Sulerud fall with a knife protruding from his abdomen and then saw the officer reach for his gun and fire. Schmidt, a former Marine, removed his shirt and used it to apply pressure to Sulerud's wounds while waiting for emergency medical personnel.
Sulerud was critically wounded and transported by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he underwent surgery. He was 27 years old, a Marine Corps veteran and had served with Butler City Police for approximately three years. City records show that Butler conditionally hired Michael E. Sulerud Jr. as a patrol officer in August 2018.
Ebberts' husband, Joe, told reporters that Ebberts had struggled with mental health problems but described him as compassionate and loving. He said this was the first time Ebberts had hurt anyone and expressed concern that police needed additional training for encounters involving people experiencing mental health crises. He did not blame Sulerud personally for what occurred but wished the encounter had ended with Ebberts receiving help rather than being killed.
There was no body-camera or other video evidence of the fatal encounter, according to Pennsylvania State Police. That makes the physical evidence, witness accounts and statements gathered by investigators particularly important in reconstructing what happened immediately before Sulerud opened fire.
Pennsylvania State Police's Major Case Team investigated the killing in conjunction with the Butler County District Attorney's Office and Butler County Coroner's Office. The Butler County Sheriff's Office, Butler City Bureau of Fire and Butler Ambulance Service also assisted.
Sulerud survived his injuries and was released from UPMC Presbyterian on 09/01/2021 after approximately a week in the hospital. The City of Butler formally approved his request for Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act benefits for the work-related injuries he sustained during the encounter.
Sulerud remained away from active police duty for several months while recovering. On 02/25/2022, Butler Police Chief Bob O'Neill announced that Sulerud had been medically cleared and returned to active duty with the department.
A deeper search of Sulerud's record showed that he continued working as a Butler police officer. A 2025 Butler County court proceeding identified Sulerud as the arresting officer in an unrelated alleged arson/hostage case; defense counsel challenged inconsistencies between his hearing testimony and the charging documents, resulting in one charge being withdrawn, although the reporting does not establish misconduct or discipline against Sulerud.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://triblive.com/local/regional/police-butler-police-officer-fatally-shoots-man-accused-of-stabbing-him/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/man-shot-killed-butler-police-officer-stabbed/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/butler-police-officer-stabbed-identified/
https://www.wtae.com/article/butler-police-officer-shooting/37383614
https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/butler-city-officer-be-released-hospital-after-stabbing-cards-support-being-accepted/ENKWVGOUCJCV7KJMQ4K5LTLA5M/
https://butlerradio.com/police-officer-allegedly-injured-in-downtown-butler-incident/
https://butlerradio.com/no-update-on-police-officers-condition/
https://butlerradio.com/butler-city-officer-released-from-hospital/
https://butlerradio.com/officer-sulerud-who-was-injured-last-summer-returns-to-city-police-force/
https://cityofbutler.org/2018/08/4264/
https://cityofbutler.org/2021/08/august-26-2021/