A Montgomery County police lieutenant who shot and killed his 17-year-old son has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by a district attorney.
The prosecutor ruled that the off-duty Hatfield Township police officer, Eric Schmitz, was justified in the using deadly force on June 8 inside his Towamencin home. District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said the son, Stephen Schmitz, tried to kill his father with a 10 - inch hunting knife.
Stephen Schmitz had just returned home from a mental health clinic where he was receiving treatment, after a suicide attempt in late May. Investigators said Stephen Schmitz had a history of violent behavior and had been clinically diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder.
The District Attorney's office detailed the events of the day that led to the attack. Schmitz told investigators that while he was doing laundry in the basement, his son approached him with the hunting knife. Authorities said the son was demanding the return of a Blackberry phone, and advancing towards his father in a menacing manner. According to the lieutenant's story, which the DA says physical evidence supports, the son swung at his father, which caused the older man to slip and fall to the floor. When Stephen stood over his father and prepared to stab him, the police officer said he drew his .45 caliber Glock and shot him twice in the chest.
The lieutenant told investigators that because of his son's anger issues, he had removed his rifles from the house and slept with his metal police flashlight next to his bed stand.
