Richard Andrew Poplawski was born on September 12, 1986, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Stanton Heights neighborhood, where he lived with his mother and grandmother. His early life included some challenges and conflicts. He attended North Catholic High School but was expelled during his junior year. Later, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps but was discharged from boot camp early. This discharge happened after he threw a food tray at a drill instructor.

In the years following his military service, Poplawski had personal struggles. He lost his job at a glass factory, which left him feeling upset. In September 2005, he was involved in an incident where he allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend. He also faced legal trouble for violating an order of protection related to that relationship.

In 2006, Poplawski moved to Florida for a short time, renting a room in a woman's house. He was evicted after an incident involving her dog. After returning to Pittsburgh, Poplawski adopted two pit bull mixes from a local animal shelter. One of these dogs caused tension in his home when it urinated on the carpet. 

On April 4, 2009, Richard Poplawski shot three police officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The incident began when Poplawski's mother called 9-1-1 to report a domestic disturbance and requested help to remove him from their home. When Officers Paul Sciullo and Stephen Mayhle arrived at 7:03 a.m., Poplawski was waiting for them. He wore a bulletproof vest and immediately shot both officers in the head as they entered the house.

Officer Eric Kelly arrived shortly after, attempting to assist the injured officers. Poplawski shot him as well. Other officers responded to the scene, leading to a chaotic and dangerous situation. Officer Timothy McManaway was injured while trying to pull Officer Kelly to safety. Another officer, Brian Jones, suffered a broken leg when a fence collapsed while he was attempting to help.

The standoff lasted for about four hours. Witnesses later reported that the scene was chaotic, and the two fallen officers were left bleeding as other officers struggled to secure the area. During the standoff, Poplawski made a call to a friend, expressing his belief that he was going to die. After being shot in the leg, Poplawski eventually surrendered to authorities.

Poplawski was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for treatment before being transferred to jail. The incident resulted in the deaths of Officers Kelly, Mayhle, and Sciullo. After investigations, authorities stated that Poplawski had fired more than 600 rounds during the standoff. He was later charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

In June 2011, Poplawski was found guilty and sentenced to death by lethal injection. His execution date was initially set for March 3, 2017, but was delayed for legal reasons. Poplawski remains incarcerated while awaiting a new execution date.