Pennsylvania Cop Who Shot and Killed an Unarmed Black Teenager Is Charged with Criminal Homicide

A Pennsylvania police officer who shot an unarmed black teenager has been charged with criminal homicide.

East Pittsburgh Officer Michael Rosfeld, 30, turned himself into authorities around 6:30am, was arraigned at 7:45am, and is currently free after posting $250,000 bond, his attorney said.

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Rosfeld, who is white, is charged in the death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose Jr. on June 19.

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.

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Rosfeld has been on administrative leave since the shooting occurred.

He told WTAE-TV last week he could not discuss the shooting but said he was getting a lot of support from law enforcement. He also said he’s stayed away from watching news reports and was not aware of the bystander video posted to social media.

Rosfeld was sworn in as a officer in the East Pittsburgh PD just 90 minutes before the shooting, but had been working for the department for approximately three weeks. He had worked as a cop in various other departments in the area since 2011.

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Civil rights attorney S Lee Merritt, who is representing Antwon’s family, said he does not see justification for the use of deadly force by the rookie cop against the teen.

Merritt said the teen was unarmed and did not pose an immediate threat.

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