Death Threats After Off-Duty Officer's Shooting
NBCPhiladelphia.com
William "Billy" Panas, 21, was killed after being shot in the chest by an off-duty Philadelphia Civil Affairs Police Officer.
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.
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.
Posted Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 - 5:40 AM EST
