INDIANA TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A drug suspect's wife was arraigned early Thursday morning on a homicide charge, accused of killing an FBI agent at her home during a regional drug raid throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Affidavit: Drug Suspect's Wife Shot FBI Agent

Special Agent Sam Hicks was shot to death on Woods Run Road in Indiana Township at about 6 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities are investigating the circumstances between the time law enforcement agents showed up at Robert and Christina Korbe's front door and when Hicks was shot.

According to an affidavit obtained by WTAE Channel 4 Action News, police surrounded the house and announced themselves saying, "This is Pittsburgh police. We have a warrant for your arrest."

The affidavit indicated that Hicks, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, looked inside the house and saw a man running, at which point, authorities said Robert Korbe, 39, went to the basement to flush cocaine down the sink.

According to the affidavit, Christina Korbe said she got a gun and fired one shot down the steps, thinking it was a burglar coming in and not federal agents. The gunshot struck Hicks, and other agents and officers pulled him out of the house and started CPR. He later died at a hospital.

Christina Korbe, 40, stated that she never heard police announce themselves, but Robert Korbe told police he knew it was police and not burglars at the door, according to the affidavit. Christina Korbe's attorney, Sumner Parker, said it's possible she mistook the drug sweep for a home invasion, saying she, at one point, called 911. Authorities took her into custody while she was on the phone.

"She called 911 because of the chaotic situation where she was concerned for her safety, and the safety of her children. And when (she called) was right after certain events took place that required, in her mind, the need to call the local police and get them to her house," Parker said.

Both Korbes were taken into custody after the shooting. Authorities later charged Christina Korbe with criminal homicide. She was taken to a hospital with stomach pain and a pre-exisiting medical condition, then released late Wednesday night and taken to jail.

"My client did some things that she thought were necessary under the circumstances as she believed them to be," Parker said.

Robert Korbe shared a different account of the incident as he was loaded into a police vehicle to face the drug charges that originally brought the FBI to his home. (Scroll down to read more details of the drug case. )

"They shot their own guy," he said. "I didn't shoot him."

The FBI quickly released a statement saying, "Based on the information right now, every indication was no shot was fired by law enforcement at the crime scene. The investigation is continuing."

Robert Korbe was first taken to Allegheny General Hospital, then transferred to the county jail in handcuffs and blue scrubs. Neither staff members nor police said why he had been in the hospital ( See Video: Drug Suspect Connected To FBI Shooting Leaves Hospital).

The Korbes' children -- a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son -- were apparently in the home when Hicks was killed. They are believed to be staying with relatives.

Allegheny County police are investigating whether officers and federal agents followed protocol when entering the Korbes' house with the warrant.

Dozens of county police officers, state police and federal agents responded to the scene of the shooting -- a short, dirt road with just seven homes. (See Map)

"We are all grieving this loss, and Sam's memory will never be forgotten," said Special Agent in Charge Michael Rodriguez, of the Pittsburgh FBI office. He said Hicks was working on a task force with local police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

A neighbor who did not want to be identified told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that she saw four unmarked cars arrive at about 6 a.m.

"They all turned their lights off and headed back up the road, which I thought was kind of unusual," the neighbor said. "About 15 minutes later, my sister called me. She lives right next door, and she says, 'The driveway is full of police.'"

The neighbor said Robert Korbe and his family moved in not long ago.

"I really didn't know that there was anything going on back there, except there's always been a lot of traffic in and out of the driveway. But that's all I've noticed," the neighbor said.

Late Wednesday afternoon, FBI agents raided Deluxe Car Care and D.J. Variety Store, which is Robert Korbe's business on Main Street in Sharpsburg. It was not immediately known whether authorities confiscated anything.

Special Agent, Westmoreland County Native, Remembered

Hicks, 33, grew up in Westmoreland County and graduated from Southmoreland High School in Alverton.
( Watch: Who Was FBI Special Agent Sam Hicks?)

"We are all grieving this loss, and Sam's memory will never be forgotten." - Michael Rodriguez, Special Agent In Charge of the Pittsburgh FBI office

In high school, Hicks took part in wrestling, track, soccer, tennis and the student council, in addition to the Youth Association for World Affairs, Students Against Drunk Driving, Varsity Club, French Club and the French National Honor Society.

He went on to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and, at one time, was part of the ski patrol at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

"He would be the type of young man where you would say, 'Boy I'd like to have a son like him,'" said Dick Barron, director of ski operations at Seven Springs. "He constantly had a smile."

Barron said he's heartbroken and that the news of Hicks' death has hit everyone at Seven Springs very hard.

"Being in a resort, everyone becomes close knit, almost like family members," said Barron.

Hicks began coming to Seven Springs as a child and worked at the resort for nearly 10 years. Hicks started as a tiny tots instructor in 1993. Barron said Hicks became their first snowboard patroller before beginning a life of service -- first as a teacher. Later, Sam Hicks became Officer Hicks, serving on the Baltimore police force from 2002 to 2007.

In March 2007, Hicks became an FBI agent. In August of that same year, he came back home to Western Pennsylvania to work out of the Pittsburgh FBI office.

"The FBI family mourns alongside agent Hicks' family, including his wife, Brooke, and their 3-year-old son," said Rodriguez.

Although Hicks had only been working from Pittsburgh for a little more than a year, he had clearly made an impact on his co-workers, and Barron said it's an impact Sam Hicks made on everyone he met.

"We were very proud of Sam," Barron said.

Robert Korbe Sought In Federal Drug Indictment

Robert Korbe was one of 35 people charged in a drug-trafficking indictment unsealed Wednesday. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to traffic cocaine and crack from October 2007 through September 2008. Other suspects were rounded up throughout the Pittsburgh region Wednesday.

Rodriguez said the alleged operation was "a violent drug distribution ring" but did not offer any other details during a brief news conference Wednesday morning.

Christina Korbe was not among those named in the indictment. Team 4 learned that Christina Korbe, a stay-at-home mother, had a misdemeanor drug charge filed against her by Pittsburgh police in 1991 under her maiden name, Christina Roland. The district attorney's office did not prosecute.

PDF: Indictment With Full List Of Suspects' Names Robert Korbe Known To Police Tribune-Review: Korbe Waived August Hearing

Robert Korbe has a record of drug arrests dating at least to the early 1990s. In 1993, he pleaded guilty to gun, drug and criminal trespass charges. In 1996, he was sentenced to probation on drug and conspiracy charges.

In August, WTAE Channel 4's news-exchange partners at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Robert Korbe waived a hearing on charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.

Charges in that earlier case stemmed from Sharpsburg police allegations that Robert Korbe fought with officers when he was stopped May 16 after leaving a fight at Pod's Landing Bar. Police said they found him carrying 130 grams of cocaine and pills including Vicodin.

Millvale police Officer Mike Vith told Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons that he's one of the officers who fought with Robert Korbe in the Sharpsburg case. Vith said a Taser gun was used three times before they could get Robert Korbe into a police car.

"Reputation alone of the Korbes in my 12-year career has been, if you go to a Korbe house, you take more people with you because they will fight," Vith said.

"If you go to a Korbe house, you take more people with you because they will fight." - Mike Vith, Millvale police officer

Robert Korbe's mother, Antoinette, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that her son has been involved with drugs for years. She said he is a convicted felon and is not allowed to own a gun, but she said Christina Korbe does have a license to carry.

Antoinette Korbe said she has not seen Robert Korbe in three years because he and his wife got a protection-from-abuse order against her. She did not discuss details of the PFA.

Special Agent Martha Dixon was the last local FBI agent to die in the line of duty.

The Mount Lebanon native was killed when a gunman opened fire in a Washington, D.C., police station in 1994. Seven years later, when the FBI opened its new Pittsburgh headquarters on the South Side, the building was named for her.

Dixon's family released a statement late Wednesday concerning Hicks' death.

"We are once again stricken with grief and we are heartsick for the Hicks family. Special Agent Hicks dedicated himself to saving lives by removing violent criminals and dangerous drugs from our society. He did so by placing his own life in danger every day. His courage and dedication was heroic."

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Previous Stories:
• November 21, 2001: Pittsburgh FBI Office Named For Mt. Lebanon Native Who Died On Duty
• April 16, 2001: FBI Office To Bear Mt. Lebanon Woman's Name

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