A 24-year-old man was ordered to face attempted murder and related offenses for shooting Yardley Police Chief Joseph Kelly who was assisting a Bucks County probation officer on an offender check at the Yardley Commons Condominiums last month.
After the shooting, Petroziello barricaded himself and his mother inside his apartment at 806 Yardley Commons. He was taken ending a more than 4-hour standoff.
Petroziello was charged with attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, two counts of attempted murder, six counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of assault of a law enforcement officer, persons not to possess a firearm, false imprisonment, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.
District Justice Corryn Kronnagel said there was enough evidence for all charges to be held over for trial at preliminary hearing last week.
At last weeks hearing, it was revealed Petroziello was angry, agitated and intoxicated and was armed prior to police arrival, however his mother never gave that information when she called for assistance from probation. Petroziello’s mother also texted Viviano, asking her if she was still on her way while never mentioning her son was armed, Bucks County Detective Frank Groome testified Groome also said during his testimony a background check revealed Petroziello was twice committed on involuntary mental health commitments, making him ineligible to possess a firearm under Pennsylvania law. He also has an active protection-from-abuse order against him from his maternal aunt, Groome said.
Investigators are still trying to find out how Petroziello came into possession of the guns, a spokesperson for the DA’s office said recently.
After Petroziello was taken into custody, District Attorney Matt Weintraub said, “The luckiest person today is Chief Joseph Kelly, next are his family and then it’s a tie: It’s all of us that the police selflessly serve and protect without regard for their own public safety, every damn day.” “And they do it without a thought of what could happen to them at any given moment,” he said. “This is but one horrible and awesome example all rolled into one because Police Chief Joseph Kelly knew of the risks, but he took them anyway when he assisted a fellow officer on a check the well-being call this morning.” At Tuesday’s hearing, Kelly detailed his extensive law enforcement career, which included more than three decades working in New Jersey where he helped in both the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer M. Schorn is assigned to prosecute the case.
Petroziello is scheduled to be formally arraigned at Bucks County Court of Common Pleas on October 1 .
Credit: Bucks County Attorney’s office
Recent Comments