The Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, district attorney has formally charged police officer Michael Rosfeld with criminal homicide in relation to the death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose.
However, the severity of Rosfeld's charge remains a mystery for now, as criminal homicide can include murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter, the latter of which is often a misdemeanour.
The officer's bail has been set at $250,000, with a preliminary hearing set for July 6; according to court records, Rosfeld did not request a public defender.
"This is a small stride toward justice but we have a very long road ahead," tweeted Rose's family attorney Lee Merritt.
Rosfeld shot Rose in the back three times as he fled a car after a traffic stop. The 17-year-old was a passenger in a vehicle that was reported to have been involved in an earlier shooting in the nearby town of North Braddock.
Rosfeld had been sworn into the East Pittsburgh police force hours before the shooting had occurred.