A Pennsylvania man who was so upset about wearing a mask inside a cigar shop in Bethlehem, he allegedly pulled a gun and fired on an employee, is now in custody after he fired at officers with an AK-47 during a traffic stop, the Bethlehem Township Police Dept said.
It all began last week when Adam Zaborowski, 35, of Slatington, entered Cigars International in Bethlehem Township Friday morning, not wearing a face mask, despite a mandate imposed by the governor. When employees told Zaborowski if he was uncomfortable wearing a mask inside the store to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they could serve him curbside, he allegedly became irate and stole two cigars from the shelf and exited the store without paying.
Police say when an employee tried to confront Zaborowski, he pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired once in the air and twice at the employee. Another patron near the store was also sitting in the direction where he fired.
No one was injured in the incident at the cigar store and Zaborowski fled the scene.
Investigators were able to identify Zaborowski and he was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery and reckless endangerment.
"Due to prior offenses, he was also charged with persons prohibited to possess a firearm," police said.
The next day, a Slatington police officer who was joined by two Pennsylvania state troopers spotted Zaborowski's car and initiated a traffic stop. After Zoborowski stopped, he allegedly jumped out of the vehicle holding an AK-47 and opened fire, striking the Slatington police car, according to State Trooper Nathan Branosky.
"Both the Slatington Borough officer and troopers returned fire and struck Zaborowski," Branosky said.
Zaborowski was taken to a local hospital, where he is currently recovering from gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks.
Zaborowski was charged with 22 offenses, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault and robbery. He's currently being held on $1 million bail.
According to Zaborowski's lawyer, John Waldron, Zaborowski had recently lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic and had also recently lost custody of his child.
"Not a defense or excuse, but he had stressors going on in his life," Waldron said. "A lot of people have stress, and some handle it better than others."