Butler officer who shot and killed man who stabbed him remains in critical condition

A Butler police officer remained in stable but critical condition Friday, days after a violent confrontation that left the officer injured and the suspect dead, authorities said.

Butler City Police Chief Bob O’Neill identified the injured officer as 27-year-old Michael Sulerud.

Sulerud was responding to a call just before 7 a.m. Tuesday for a man acting erratically and jumping in and out of traffic on West Jefferson Street, police have said.

The call came about 6:54 a.m. Sulerud was on scene by 6:57 a.m., according to state police, who are investigating the incident. Police said an altercation almost immediately ensued, with the man stabbing Sulerud multiple times and Sulerud firing his service weapon.

Police have not indicated whether Sulerud was the only officer who responded to the initial call, nor have they said how many times he fired his weapon.

The man, later identified as 35-year-old John Ebberts, died from his wounds. Sulerud was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in stable but critical condition and underwent surgery that morning.

O’Neill said in a statement he’d met briefly with Sulerud, who is a Marine veteran. He called the three-year veteran of the department a man “of great integrity and fortitude” and asked for prayers for Sulerud during his recovery.

Officers from the state police Troop D barracks are investigating, according to the release, along with the county’s District Attorney’s Office and the coroner.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police in Butler at 724-284-8100.