Man Shot During Langhorne 7-Eleven Robbery Is Now Charged

LANGHORNE, PA — A man who authorities say was shot after charging a police officer with a knife during a 7-Eleven robbery in Langhorne has now been charged in the incident.

Charles Edward Emrich, Jr., 54, of Langhorne Manor in Langhorne, was arraigned last week on charges of robbery, conspiracy to robbery, aggravated assault and other charges, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's office.

The DA's office says Emrich and a second man who already has been charged had been identified as suspects in a string of 7-Eleven robberies in Bucks County and New Jersey when they were targeted by a police task force on June 6.

According to prosecutors, Emrich entered the 7-Eleven in the 200 block of North Pine Street at 9:42 p.m. that night, jumped the counter and removed the drawer from the cash register while his co-defendant, John Sugalski, 66, waited in a vehicle outside.

The men did not know that, at the time, they were under surveillance by a task force that included the FBI. An officer from the Bensalem Township Police Department tailed them from their home at Langhorne Manor to the store and intervened in the robbery, prosecutors say.

The officer confronted Emrich, ordering him to get on the ground and drop his knife, according to the DA's office. Instead, prosecutors say, he charged at the officer "howling like an animal."

The officer shot Emrich twice. He was hospitalized, then released into the custody of law enforcement.

The Bucks County District Attorney's office investigated the shooting and DA Matthew Weintraub determined that the officer was justified in shooting Emrich.

"Unquestionably, Emrich disregarded lawful commands to stop and drop his weapon," Weintraub said. "Emrich clearly placed the officer and the two store clerks in apparent and imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury."

Emrich is being held in lieu of bail, which was set by District Judge Daniel Baranoski at 10% of $950,000. Sugalski remains jailed as well.