Officer charged with criminal homicide in Antwon Rose shooting

PITTSBURGH -- (WPMT) -- The Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, district attorney charged East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld with criminal homicide on Wednesday in the shooting death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II, court records show.

The severity of the charge was not immediately clear. Under Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide includes murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. The latter is often a misdemeanor.

Rosfeld's bail was set at $250,000. 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 shot Antwon three times June 19 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 North Braddock.

Rosfeld pulled the car over and ordered the driver out of the car and onto the ground, police said. Antwon and another passenger “bolted” from the vehicle, and the East Pittsburgh officer opened fire, striking the teenager, police said.