GREENSBURG — A police officer fatally shot while responding to a domestic dispute was “100 percent” justified in shooting at the slaying suspect, a state police spokesman said Monday.

Ray Shetler, 31, of New Florence, was arraigned Monday on one count of criminal homicide in the Saturday night shooting of St. Clair Township Officer Lloyd Reed, 54.

Shetler’s girlfriend called 911 around 9 p.m. to report that Shetler had been drinking, bloodied her nose and threatened to kill himself and her. She also said he caused the rural Western Pennsylvania home they shared to begin filling with smoke from a wood-burning stove.

State Trooper Stephen Limani said she also told a dispatcher that Shetler had a rifle.

After the woman’s call, a state trooper was dispatched to Shetler’s home in New Florence, a tiny borough about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. As a dispatcher relayed details of what appeared to be an escalating situation, the trooper requested assistance, which brought Reed from St. Clair and an officer from Seward borough to the home, Limani said.

Reed arrived first and confronted Shetler as he left the home, rifle in hand, according to an account Shetler’s girlfriend gave police. The woman told police Reed shot at Shetler before her boyfriend returned fire, mortally wounding the officer in the left side of his torso.

Seward Officer Justin Bickert also fired toward Shetland before he ran off, but Bickert couldn’t clearly see Shetland due to trees and darkness.

State police arrested Shelter without incident about six hours later. Police on Monday were still searching for Shetland’s .270-caliber rifle, which the suspect said he lost while swimming across a river to avoid police.

Shetler had a bullet wound to the front of his shoulder and was treated at a hospital. He was jailed Monday and faces a preliminary hearing Dec. 11.

Limani said Reed fired six shots from his .40-caliber service pistol and that Bickert fired once.