Death Threats After Off-Duty Officer's Shooting

By KAREN ARAIZA

Updated 8:58 AM EST, Tue, Nov 24, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

NBCPhiladelphia.com

Police were stationed outside a civil affairs officer's house Tuesday morning – reacting to death threats.

Officer Frank Tepper is accused of shooting Billy Panas Saturday night during a neighborhood fight between two large groups. Tepper was off-duty at the time.

The shooting has become controversial because of the two very different accounts of what happened.

Investigators say the civil affairs officer (who police are still not officially identifying) was trying to break up a fight, was jumped in the process and that made his gun go off.

Investigators Speak Out About Controversial Shooting

WATCH

Investigators Speak Out About Controversial Shooting

William Panas Father Talks About his Son's Death

WATCH

William Panas Father Talks About his Son's Death

Panas Friend: They Treated Us Like We Killed Somebody

WATCH

Panas Friend: They Treated Us Like We Killed Somebody

Witnesses say Tepper's son was fighting with Panas, and that Tepper pulled out his revolver and shot Panas, 21, in the chest. Those same witnesses claim Tepper never identified himself as an officer and that Tepper was not jumped.

Panas was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

"He's gotta go to jail for killing my only son," Bill Panas, Sr. screamed Monday, pointing toward Tepper's home.

Two death threats were called into the Civil Affairs Unit on Monday, sources told NBC Philadelphia.

The officer was placed on desk duty while Internal Affairs investigates the shooting.