Parents of slain youth sue police officer

East Pittsburgh officials also named in federal court action in death of Antwon Rose II

Pitsburgh Post-Gazette

The police shooting that sparked weeks of regional protests and renewed the national debate about how police deal with minorities has landed in federal court in Pittsburgh.

Michael Rosfeld, an East Pittsburgh police officer, was in no danger and gave no commands before he shot unarmed 17-year-old Antwon Rose II in the back as he ran from a traffic stop June 19, according to a suit filed Wednesday night by Antwon’s parents.

Michelle Kenney and Antwon Rose Sr. say in the suit that Officer Rosfeld used “excessive and deadly force resulting in the unlawful shooting death” of their son.

The suit makes a variety of civil rights claims, but the crux of the case, said attorney Fred Rabner, is that Officer Rosfeld didn’t react the way an officer should.

“Our position is that the officer did not act as a reasonable officer would have in the same situation,” Mr. Rabner said Thursday.

Police can shoot someone, even an unarmed person, if they are threatened or if they are trying to stop a suspect from hurting someone else.

Antwon was not a threat to anyone, Mr. Rabner said, and didn’t make any gestures to indicate he had a weapon.

“Without issuing a verbal warning or attempting any pursuit whatsoever, Rosfeld immediately fired three rounds, in rapid succession, at hisback, striking his back, the side of his face, and the arm of [Rose] causing him to collapse to the ground where he lay in extreme pain,” the suitsays.

What’s more, Mr. Rabner said, Officer Rosfeld did not attempt to help Antwon, who later died at a hospital of his injuries.

In addition to the officer, who is facing criminal charges and is on unpaid leave, the suit names East Pittsburgh police Chief Lori Fruncek, Mayor Louis Payne and the borough of East Pittsburgh.

The complaint says Officer Rosfeld pulled over the car in which Antwon was a passenger and “without waiting for backup units to arrive...immediatelydrew his weapon and began to shout menacing and hostile orders at the occupants of thevehicle, including Rose.”

The suit says Officer Rosfeld’s tone and demeanor was so aggressive that it caused the occupants of the vehicle to fear for their lives.

It also “alarmed” a witness, Lashaun Livingston, who then decided to record the events leading