FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                                   JANUARY 28, 2008

 

 

          Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announces the results of the investigation of the shooting incident involving police officers and Sean EDELMAN on December 29, 2007.  District Attorney Ferman finds that the police were justified in their use of deadly force. In addition, she concluded that the police use of deadly force did not cause EDELMAN’s death. EDELMAN took his own life when he turned his own gun on himself.

 

          On December 29, 2007 at 4:24pm, Pottstown Police were called to 443 Highland Road on the report of a man threatening to commit suicide. Upon their arrival, officers attempted, in person and by telephone to speak with EDELMAN and have him come out of his house. He refused to do so and ended the conversations. Shortly thereafter, officers heard gunshots coming from inside the house. Members of the Chester-Montgomery Emergency Response Team responded as negotiators attempted to convince EDELMAN to come out of the house. During the next six hours, officers saw EDELMAN walking around inside the house armed with a gun. On several occasions, EDELMAN shined a red laser, believed to be a sighting device for a gun, at Pottstown officers.

 

          At approximately 12:45 am, EDELMAN went out the back door of the residence. EDELMAN ignored repeated police commands to stop, and was able to enter a Hummer SUV parked in the driveway. He then accelerated in reverse at officers who were standing in the driveway. Fearing for their safety, tactical officers fired at the Hummer. EDELMAN drove the Hummer from the scene and was pursued by Pottstown offices, who last saw EDELMAN eastbound on Route 422 at the Lewis Road exit.

 

          Aware of the Pottstown incident, members of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lower Providence Police Department, Royersford Police Department and the Collegeville Police Department located the Hummer near the Oaks exit of Route 422. EDELMAN refused all commands to stop and fled eastbound on Egypt Road. Troopers and Officers pursued EDELMAN to the Wachovia Bank parking lot at Egypt Road and Ridge Pike. At that location, Troopers and Officers got out of their cars and ordered EDELMAN, at gunpoint, to stop his car and surrender. EDELMAN refused and instead pointed a laser-sighted handgun at a Trooper. Fearing for the Trooper’s life, the Troopers and the Lower Providence Officer fired at EDELMAN, striking him several times. After the shooting, officers found a partially loaded .45 caliber handgun with a laser sight inside EDELMAN’s car.

 

          EDELMAN was flown by Medivac helicopter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for emergency medical treatment.  EDELMAN died of his wounds on Tuesday, January 1, 2008. 

 

          On Wednesday, January 2, 2008 Dr. Gary Collins, a Forensic Pathologist with the Philadelphia Office of the Medical Examiner, conducted an autopsy on EDELMAN’s body.  He determined EDELMAN suffered from four distinct gunshot wounds.  EDELMAN sustained three non-life threatening wounds to his body--one in the left chest, one in the left outer thigh and one in the right inner thigh.  The gunshot to EDELMAN’s head was fatal.  According to Dr. Collins, the gunshot to EDELMAN’s head was a self inflicted contact wound.  Dr. Collins opined that the Manner of Death was Suicide.

 

          During the investigation, law enforcement officers from the Montgomery County Detective Bureau determined that while EDELMAN was inside the Highland Avenue home, he accessed a website devoted to discussion of suicide.  Furthermore, investigators found a note, apparently authored by EDELMAN, which said “I’m sorry I just can’t do it any longer. I don’t even have credit with you.”

 

          Ballistics examinations including Firearms Analysis and Trajectory Analysis were conducted by Pennsylvania State Police Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Trooper Mark Garrett and Montgomery County’s Ballistics Expert, Detective John Finor.  According to Det. Finor and Trooper Garrett, three State Troopers and a Lower Providence Police Officer fired their weapons. Three rounds from one or more of the State Troopers struck EDELMAN. The Troopers’ rounds that struck EDELMAN caused non-fatal wounds. Two spent cartridge cases that match the .45 caliber handgun taken off of EDELMAN were located; one in the vehicle Edelman was driving and the other fell from Edelman’s clothing when he was taken to the ambulance.

Based upon a thorough review of all the available evidence District Attorney Ferman concluded that the Troopers and Lower Providence Police Officer reasonably feared imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury and that they acted with legal justification by employing deadly force in response to that threat.  Deadly force is that force which is readily capable of causing death or serious bodily injury, whether or not either result is actually caused.  As law enforcement officers, they had the obligation to confront that threat and their actions were lawful and appropriate under the circumstances.

         

         

 

 

                                                                   Approved for Release:

 

 

                                                                   Risa Vetri Ferman