A community is grieving after a 17-year old teenager was shot and killed by police after running from police during a traffic stop.
According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Antwon Rose was fatally shot by police Tuesday (Jun 19) in East Pittsburgh after he “bolted” from the vehicle as police took the driver into custody. Although the teen was unarmed, the Allegheny County police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said two guns were found on the floorboard of the vehicle, after pulling the teen and 20-year old unidentified passenger over in response to a shooting near the area.
“I understand in today’s atmosphere anytime a young man is killed there’s cause for outrage in some areas,” McDonough said in a press conference. “However, I would urge people to give us time to conduct an objective investigation, to gather facts.”
According to reports, witnesses said they saw a vehicle fleeing the scene after the shooting, and officials said a police officer in the borough of East Pittsburgh stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Grandview Avenue and Howard Street that matched witness descriptions and that also had ballistics damage to the rear window. Although the car matched McDonough reports that the driver who was detained was arrested and later released.
The Superintendent also revealed that police have not interviewed the officer involved in the shooting as of yet but assured that he has been placed on leave by his department. When asked if the officer is white, Superintendent McDonough said he didn’t see what that had to do with the shooting.
Prayers out to the city of Pittsburgh and the family of Antwon Rose.
