EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania prosecutor is opening an independent probe into a fatal shooting by state police troopers.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli announced Tuesday that a detective will begin gathering evidence on Saturday’s shooting death of 47-year-old Anthony Ardo of Lower Mount Bethel Township.
Morganelli has been sharply critical of state police for refusing to relinquish its investigation of the shooting to his office. Guidelines issued by the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association say that police shootings should be investigated by an independent agency.
Morganelli tells The (Allentown) Morning Call (https://bit.ly/2reApcA ) he began the parallel probe on principle.
State police were called the home for a man threatening suicide. Police say Ardo was trying to light the fuse of an explosive device around his neck that turned out to be a firework.
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Information from: The Morning Call, https://www.mcall.com
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