Chester County Justice Center Attacker May Have Attempted 'Suicide By Cop'

The man who was shot while attacking a sheriff’s deputy at the Chester County Justice Center on Tuesday may have attempted “suicide by cop,” and had been experiencing domestic issues, according to officials.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan today released the findings of his office’s investigation into the incident – which left the deputy, identified as Kevin Brough, in the hospital with injuries, and the attacker, 34-year-old Curtis Smith, dead after another deputy opened fire – stating there was evidence that Smith had previously tried to draw the fire of Secret Service agents when he scaled the White House fence in March.

“One of Smith’s family members has stated the belief that the incident at the White House was a suicide attempt by Smith, so-called ‘suicide by cop,’” read Hogan’s report. “Additionally in 2015, Smith was experiencing domestic issues.”

Specifically, Smith’s wife had filed a Protection from Abuse order against him, according to the DA. He was also reportedly arrested for burglary and assault during that time.

Smith’s jumping the White House fence last spring resulted in his arrest by the Secret Service, but he was eventually released. The charges were still pending at the time of the justice center attack.

Also included in Hogan’s report was the fact that Smith’s brother, Derek, pleaded guilty in 2013 to murdering their father, in a shooting incident that happened in Caln Township.

Smith, a resident of Coatesville and Downingtown, spent the morning before the Aug. 25 justice center attack with family, said Hogan.

“Family members described him as deeply religious,” read the report. “On that morning, he generally seemed normal.

“However, he sped away from the house in his car for some unknown reason.”

Smith arrived at the front doors of the justice center in West Chester at 11:49 a.m. that day.

According to Hogan, Smith yelled “Let’s do this sh—” at the two deputies at the security station entrance before pulling out a folding knife and slashing at the nearest one. The other deputy fired at Smith three times with his service weapon, striking him twice in the torso.

Smith was conscious during his trip to Paoli Hospital, Hogan said. He reportedly told emergency crews his name, but nothing else. He later died at the hospital from the gunshot wounds.

According to Hogan, Smith’s knife cut through the back of the deputy’s uniform, and was stopped by the officer’s ballistic vest.

The injured deputy was treated at the scene for injuries to his hand, which surgeons later determined were caused by one of the shots fired by the other officer.

Neither of the two deputy sheriffs knew Smith, nor had they any prior contact with him, Hogan said. In addition, as deputy sheriffs are on rotated shifts, there would have been no way for Smith to know where they would be on duty and where they would have been stationed, the DA added.

“My fellow deputy sheriff not only saved my life in this tragic event, but also potentially the lives of many other citizens who were in the justice center,” said the injured deputy in a statement. “I consider my colleague to be a hero for the actions he took and the people he protected.”

Hogan, in his findings, ruled the actions of the deputy who fired the service weapon to be justified. As such, the district attorney’s office has declined to release their name.

“The deputy sheriffs responded appropriately and professionally to this attack,” said Hogan in a statement. “All of the training that we do to address active threats paid dividends. In many of these attacks in public buildings around the nation, there have been multiple casualties of innocent civilians. That did not happen here because of the immediate response of the deputy sheriffs.

“There is no such thing as a ‘good’ shooting, because a man has lost his life and it is clear in retrospect that there were mental health issues involved,” he added. “However, the deputy sheriffs fulfilled their duty by protecting themselves and the citizens at the justice center.”

Photos: Curtis Smith and the knife reportedly used in the attack. Courtesy of the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.