Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

From the June 23, 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Shot once in the chest during an argument at his sister's North Side home early yesterday, a former Army Ranger pulled his own gun and killed his assailant before dying of his wound, police said.

"You've got a murder and a justifiable homicide, is what it looks like," said Lt. Dan Hermann of the major crimes unit.

Killed in the exchange of gunfire were Gregory Grabowski, 29, a former Ranger from the North Side, and Timothy Beaman, 23, of Woods Run.

Police responding to a report of shots fired at 2:39 a.m. at 25311/2 N. Charles St. found a bloody scene, with Mr. Grabowski lying just inside the front door and Mr. Beaman on the sidewalk at the bottom of the steps leading to the house.

The two lay mortally wounded about eight feet from each other, remnants of their blood stains still visible after attempts to clean it up.

Mr. Grabowski was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr. Beaman at Allegheny General Hospital.

The fight was apparently over noise after Mr. Beaman, along with two friends, showed up at the house, which is rented to Mr. Grabowski's sister. Mr. Beaman is the father of the tenant's child, police said.

Mr. Beaman is also the father of another child whose mother lives in the row house.

Angered by noise, Mr. Grabowski confronted the men in the kitchen, saying he had to get up for work in the morning, said Lt. Hermann.

When Mr. Grabowski asked them to leave, an argument broke out, according to three witnesses. Mr. Beaman pulled a gun and shot Mr. Grabowski once in the chest.

Although wounded, Mr. Grabowski pulled a .357-caliber pistol and shot Mr. Beaman twice in the chest. Mr. Beaman and his two friends ran for the door with Mr. Grabowski in pursuit until he collapsed at the front door.

Mr. Beaman collapsed at the bottom of the steps.

The two men with him ran away but returned once police secured the scene. Police said they are not suspects in the shooting, although one of them was wanted on a warrant out of West View.

According to Allegheny County court records, both men were awaiting trial in separate cases.

Mr. Grabowski was charged May 19 with forgery, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and acquisition by misrepresentation after being accused of passing a forged prescription at Giant Eagle.

Mr. Beaman was awaiting trial on charges of illegal gun possession, receiving stolen property and other counts.