Pennsylvania jury acquits white police officer in fatal shooting of unarmed black teen News
geralt / Pixabay
Pennsylvania jury acquits white police officer in fatal shooting of unarmed black teen

A jury on Friday acquitted former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld of all charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed 17-year-old Antwon Rose II.

The jury was instructed to consider first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, Rosfeld could have been sentenced to life in prison. After three-and-half days hearing testimony from 23 witnesses and hundreds of exhibits, the jury deliberated for four hours and found Rosfeld not guilty on all counts. The jury verdict was unanimous.

“While I respectfully disagree with their verdict, it is the people of this commonwealth who decide guilty or not guilty and they have spoken to this matter,”said Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. in a released statement. “In the interest of justice, we must continue to do our job of bringing charges in situations where charges are appropriate, regardless of the role an individual holds in the community.”

Under Pennsylvania law, police officers are justified in using force when they believe it necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves or others, or if they believe it necessary to prevent a suspect’s escape from arrest. That suspect, the law continues, must have committed or attempted to commit a forcible felony and pose a danger to human life.

“Antwon Rose was shot in his back, which killed him. He was unarmed, and he did not pose a threat to the officer or to the community, and the verdict today says that is OK, that is acceptable behavior from a police officer.” said S. Lee Merritt, the attorney for Rose’s family.

Reggie Shuford, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, called for changes in Pennsylvania law to force police departments to release their use-of-force policies. “Pennsylvania allows departments to hide information about police operations, including cops who repeatedly violate the rules or the law,” he said. “Pennsylvania even allows police departments to hide policies on use of force when other states have laws making the same information public. There can and must be more transparency around police operations.”