East Pittsburgh, PA — The family of Antwon Rose II, the 17-year old Black teen who was shot and killed by former police officer Michael Rosfeld in June 2018, has received a settlement for $2 million for the wrongful death lawsuit they filed against the police department and the city of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rose’s family sued Rosfeld, claiming that Rose’s civil rights were violated when the police officer used “excessive and deadly force” against him.
The lawsuit also claimed East Pittsburgh “maintained a policy and custom of failing to properly screen, train, supervise, discipline, transfer, counsel or otherwise control officers who are known to engage in excessive force.”
The lawsuit sought at least $1 million for alleged use of excessive force and further unspecified damages to pay for medical bills, funeral expenses, and legal fees.
The Rose family won $2 million, which is the maximum amount East Pittsburgh is allowed to grant under its insurance policy. Only half of it — about $1.17 million — will go to Rose’s estate, while the rest will cover legal fees and reimbursement costs, according to court documents.
In June 2018, Rosfeld fatally shot Rose, who was unarmed, during a traffic stop. During the trial, Rosfeld claimed he shot Rose three times because he was threatened as he thought Rose was pointing a gun at him.
Rosfeld faced one criminal homicide charge as well as first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter, which could have him sentenced to life in prison if convicted. However, after a three-and-a-half-day hearing, the jury decided Rosfeld is not guilty on all counts.