Abington officer wounded in shoot-out

An Abington Township police officer was wounded in a leg during a shoot-out early yesterday that stemmed from a domestic dispute that began in Philadelphia.

Robert Davis, 39, a 10-year member of the force, was in good condition last night at Abington Memorial Hospital.

"He was very, very lucky," Deputy Chief John Livingood said.

Leon Bailado, 32, of Philadelphia, was charged with attempted murder. He was shot multiple times by police and was also taken to the Abington hospital.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said that he did not know Bailado's condition and that the man would be arraigned upon recovering.

"He's alive. We're watching him," Steele said.

About 1 a.m., police were called to a home in the 2000 block of Cross Road to investigate a report of a man with a gun, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Davis went to the back of the property and confronted Bailado, who shot at him and another officer, authorities said. Police fired back, hitting Bailado several times.

According to police, Bailado had fired a shot at a woman hours before at his home on Shelbourne Street in Philadelphia and said, according to the investigation, "This is the last night that you are going to live. If you try to run, I'll shoot you. If you call the police I'll have a shoot-out."

The woman fled to her her parents' house on Cross Road, police said.

Steele said he did not know whether Bailado had a criminal history. After the arraignment, Bailado will be scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Justice Juanita Price.

"Police officers go out on a domestic call and every time they do, their lives are in serious danger," Steele said.

Livingood said he could not remember the last time an Abington officer had been shot.

"It's been a few years," he said. "We just feel very fortunate with this one."