Man who fled custody after allegedly shooting police officer arrested following nine day man hunt

Gerasimos Athans sustained non-life-threatening injuries

Koby Lee Francis in a 2017 booking photo released by the Allegheny County Police Department (Allegheny County Police Department)

A man who fled custody after allegedly opening fire on a police officer in Pennsylvania while handcuffed has been arrested after a nine-day search, police have said.

Koby Lee Francis, 22, of McKeesport was captured by US Marshals on Tuesday in an apartment complex in Clarksburg, West Virginia, following the alleged incident just over a week before, Allegheny County police said.

Mr Francis has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt homicide, person not to possess a firearm, flight to avoid apprehension trial or punishment, and escape in the alleged shooting.

Authorities allege that Mr Francis shot a Pennsylvania police officer three times with a gun that police were unaware he possessed outside a police station in McKeesport, near Pittsburgh, after he was taken into custody on 20 December and then fled.

The 22-year-old will be held at the North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Doddridge County while awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Officer Gerasimos Athans, 32, was shot in the neck and shoulder and sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident earlier this month, ABC News reported.

Police said Mr Francis had been caught on Tuesday following a nine-day manhunt. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer to comment on his behalf.

Officials have also arrested four people who they allege assisted the suspect in his evasion from custody, the broadcaster reported.

Reporting by the Associated Press