Rosfeld waives preliminary hearing

Charged in death of Antwon Rose II

The East Pittsburgh police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teen last month has waived his preliminary hearing.

Michael Rosfeld was scheduled to appear for the hearing on Friday at the Allegheny County Courthouse. However, defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said Tuesday that the hearing has formally been waived.

Mr. Thomassey repeated earlier statements that his client was justified when he shot Antwon Rose, 17, three times as the teen fled a traffic stop on June 19.

Officer Rosfeld, 30, of Penn Hills, stopped the car in which Antwon was a passenger just 13 minutes after, police said, it was involved in a drive-by shooting in North Braddock.

After Officer Rosfeld got the driver of the car on the ground, investigators with Allegheny County’s homicide unit said, Antwon turned and fled from the car.

Officer Rosfeld shot him in the back, arm and face.

Another teen who fled from the car, Zaijuan Hester, 17, is charged with attempted homicide in the drive-by shooting and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing also on Friday.

Police said Antwon had an empty clip for a handgun in his pants pocket but no weapon. In announcing charges against Officer Rosfeld, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said, Antwon did not fire a weapon in the drive-by shooting, and there was no justification for shooting Antwon.

On Tuesday, Mr. Thomassey said he believed there is nothing to be gained by having a preliminary hearing, “calling witnesses and getting everyone all riled up.”

Instead, he said, it will be a jury that must determine his client’s fate.

Since the shooting, there have been repeated protests, including several that have shut down Downtown streets, as well as the Parkway East.