Officer Michael Rosfeld [photo], stands charged with criminal homicide, after his report of the shooting was found to riddled with inconsistencies
New details, included in the criminal complaint against Rosfeld, indicate Antwon was shot in his face, right arm and the middle of his back.
It also states that Antwon was in a car suspected in an earlier shooting but did not appear to be the shooter, and that Rosfeld made inconsistent statements about whether he believed Antwon had a gun when Rosfeld opened fire.
It also states that Antwon was in a car suspected in an earlier shooting but did not appear to be the shooter, and that Rosfeld made inconsistent statements about whether he believed Antwon had a gun when Rosfeld opened fire.
The severity of the charge against Rosfeld was not immediately clear.
Under Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide includes murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. The latter is often a misdemeanor.
Under Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide includes murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. The latter is often a misdemeanor.
Criminal homicide is when someone “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the death of another human being,” according to state code.
Officer Michael Rosfeld stands charged with criminal homicide. Rosfeld told investigators that he did not see a gun when the passenger emerged and ran. Confronted with this inconsistency, Rosfeld states he saw something in the passenger’s hand but was not sure what it was,”
Rose was a passenger in a car pulled over by Rosfeld because police said it matched the description of a car wanted in a shooting in a nearby town.
As Rosfeld was taking the driver into custody, Rose and a second passenger fled.
A video taken from a nearby house shows them running from the car. Three gunshots can be heard, and the passengers can be seen either falling or crouching as they pass between houses. It is unclear from the video if Rosfeld yelled for them to stop. Rose was shot three times.
Authorities said two handguns were retrieved from the car, and District Attorney Stephen Zappala said an empty gun clip was found in Rose’s pocket.
Rosfeld was arraigned Wednesday morning and his bail was set at $250,000, court records show. A preliminary hearing is set for July 6.
It was not immediately clear if the officer had obtained representation. He did not request a public defender, according to the court records.
“This is a small stride toward justice but we have a very long road ahead,” Rose family attorney Lee Merritt tweeted.
Rosfeld, 30, shot Antwon three times on Tuesday, as he fled a car after a traffic stop. According to Allegheny County police, Antwon was a passenger in a car that authorities suspected of being involved in an earlier shooting in nearby Braddock.
Sometime before 8:30 p.m. on June 19, someone fired nine .40-caliber rounds at a 22-year-old target in North Braddock borough, Allegheny County police said.
The victim, who returned fire, was struck and taken to a hospital. He was treated and released.
The victim, who returned fire, was struck and taken to a hospital. He was treated and released.
According to initial report from Allegheny County police, witnesses, including one who flagged down a police officer, described the vehicle in the shooting.
Thirteen minutes later, an East Pittsburgh officer Rosfeld saw a silver Chevy Cruze, which matched the vehicle’s description. He stopped the car around 8:40 p.m. and ordered the driver out of the car and onto the ground, police said.
Antwon and another passengerallegedly, “bolted” from the vehicle.
Rosfeld opened fire, striking Antwon, police said.
Thirteen minutes later, an East Pittsburgh officer Rosfeld saw a silver Chevy Cruze, which matched the vehicle’s description. He stopped the car around 8:40 p.m. and ordered the driver out of the car and onto the ground, police said.
Antwon and another passengerallegedly, “bolted” from the vehicle.
Rosfeld opened fire, striking Antwon, police said.
Officer Rosefeld said he shot Antwon Rose II [photo], as he was running away from a car suspected to be involved in a shooting, but medical examination showed the teen was shot in his face, right arm and the middle of his back
Thousands jam the streets of Pittsburgh rallying in protest over police shooting death of Antwon Rose Jr.
In the criminal complaint against Rosfeld contains a lengthy narrative providing myriad new details, some substantially contradicting the earlier police report ,emerged about Antwon Rose’s death and the earlier shooting:
Officers from East Pittsburgh, North Braddock and Braddock initially responded to a report of shots fired in an area of North Braddock known for drug crimes and shootings. Witnesses told officers a passenger had fired from a tan or gold Mercury with aftermarket wheels, then fled, the complaint says
Within minutes, police identified a victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and the vehicle description was updated to a light gold Chevy Cruze with tinted windows, according to the complaint.
About a mile and a half away, officers responded to the scene where Rosfeld had pulled over a light gold Cruze with its rear window broken and with two bullet holes, one in the trunk and one in the front passenger door, the complaint says. The driver was in custody and another passenger had fled on foot. Antwon had been shot and taken to a hospital. Rosfeld’s car was parked 24 feet behind the Cruze.
Officers pursuing the passenger who fled the Cruze later found a black shirt, which was collected as evidence. A juvenile arrested this week is expected to be charged in the North Braddock shooting, Allegheny County police spokeswoman Amie Downs said Tuesday.
Protestors in Pittsburgh seek Justice for Rose Jr
Witnesses at the second scene told investigators Rosfeld ordered the driver out of the car and appeared to handcuff him, before turning his attention to the other occupants, one of whom fled between a home and a senior center, the complaint says. Rosfeld shot three times, hitting one of the men, whose hands were empty, witnesses said. The second man fled amid the gunshots, according to the complaint.
The driver told police he had been at a housing complex after work and had picked up a guy named Javon and another fellow whose name he didn’t know. Javon, who was wearing a light-clored shirt, got into the front seat and the other male, who was wearing a black shirt, got in the back, the driver told police.
As they drove past a market in North Braddock, the driver said he heard the person in the back seat ask, “Is that him?”
The driver then heard gunfire and drove toward East Pittsburgh. When detectives showed the driver a photo of Antwon, the driver identifiedthe person he knew as Javon, the complaint says.
The driver then heard gunfire and drove toward East Pittsburgh. When detectives showed the driver a photo of Antwon, the driver identifiedthe person he knew as Javon, the complaint says.
Investigators found two guns, a 9mm Glock with a 17-round clip missing one bullet and a .40-caliber Glock with an extended clip containing 18 rounds, under the passenger seat, the complaint says.
The .40mm Glock which had been reported stolen was determined to have discharged the casings found at the scene of the North Braddock shooting. The other gun had been reported lost, the complaint states.
The .40mm Glock which had been reported stolen was determined to have discharged the casings found at the scene of the North Braddock shooting. The other gun had been reported lost, the complaint states.
At the hospital, police collected Antwon’s belonging, including a light-colored T-shirt and an empty magazine for the 9mm Glock.
Speaking to police, the complaint says, Rosfeld explained his intention had been to get all three occupants on the ground as he awaited backup. After ordering the driver onto the ground, Rosfeld said, the front-seat passenger exited the vehicle and “turned his hand toward Officer Rosfeld and he, Officer Rosfeld, saw something dark that he perceived as a gun.” He stepped out from behind his car door for a better view and opened fire, the officer told investigators.
Protesters rally over police shooting death of Antwon Rose Jr. Four people were arrested as they protested over the police shooting
Interviewed later over the contents of his initial report and the chain of events, Rosfeld “told the detectives that he did not see a gun when the passenger emerged and ran. When confronted with this inconsistency, Rosfeld states he saw something in the passenger’s hand but was not sure what it was,” the complaint says.
According to WPXI, Rosfeld had been sworn in to the East Pittsburgh police force just hours before the shooting, the complaint says. He’d worked with other local departments for seven years.
Antwon’s death sparked protests in Pittsburgh, a 15-minute drive west of East Pittsburgh. The teen was laid to rest Monday.
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