US police officer charged with criminal homicide in shooting of African American

WASHINGTON - A US police officer who last week fatally shot an unarmed African American teenager in Allegheny County, state of Pennsylvania, was charged with criminal homicide on Wednesday, according to court records.

East Pittsburgh Officer Michael Rosfeld is charged in the death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose Jr., who was shot three times in the back on June 19, as the teen fled a traffic stop from a vehicle suspected to be involved in an earlier drive-by shooting on that day.

It was revealed that Rose was shot in the back, the side of his face and his elbow.

The severity of the charge was not immediately clear. According to Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide includes murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

Rosfeld's bail was set at 250,000 US dollars. A hearing is set for early July. It wasn't known Wednesday if the 30-year-old Penn Hills resident has retained an attorney.

"This is a small stride toward justice but we have a very long road ahead," Rose family attorney Lee Merritt tweeted.

Rose's death sparked days of demonstrations in Pittsburgh demanding justice for him, as protesters questioned Rosfeld's use of deadly force while denouncing police brutality and systemic racism in US law enforcement.

According to a video that captured the shooting, as Rosfeld was taking the driver into custody, Rose and a second passenger got out and ran from the vehicle. Amid the sound of three gunshots, Rose fell onto the ground and was pronounced dead later in a hospital.

The other passenger, identified as 17-year-old Zaijuan Hester, was arrested on Tuesday and is expected to face charges in connection to the drive-by shooting.

Rosfeld had only been on duty in East Pittsburgh for several weeks and was formally sworn in about 90 minutes before the fatal shooting.

The white police officer had worked at several other police departments, including at the University of Pittsburgh, during the last seven years, according to media reports.