Antwon Rose Killing: DA Details Homicide Charge Against Officer

PITTSBURGH, PA - Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said Wednesday he has sufficient evidence to argue at least a third-degree murder conviction against East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld in the death of Antwon Rose.

But Zappala said at a news conference that he wants the jury that eventually will determine Rosfeld’s fate to consider all degrees of murder.

A third-degree murder conviction in Pennsylvania carries a penalty of 20-to-40 years in prison. Zappala said he believes at least a third-degree murder conviction is warranted because “You do not shoot somebody in the back if they are not a threat to you.”

Rosfeld shot Rose, a 17-year-old Woodland Hills high school student, three times June 19 as he and another youth, Zaijuan Hester, 17, fled following a traffic stop. Rosfeld stopped the vehicle because it had been involved in a drive-by shooting minutes before in neighboring North Braddock.

Zappala said Rose was hit in the side of the face, the right elbow and the back, the latter of which proved to be the fatal shot.

Video evidence of the drive-by shows that Hester was the shooter, Zappala said.

Hester has been charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and firearms violations.

During the drive-by, the passenger seat in which Rose was sitting had its window rolled up. Although two guns were found in the vehicle, Zappala said that Rose did not fire a weapon.

During the fatal shooting, “There was no weapon that would have created a risk to Officer Rosfeld,“ Zappala said. “Based on that, Rosfeld’s actions were intentional and they sought about the result he was looking to accomplish.”

Photo via Allegheny County District Attorney's Office.

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