DA Clears Plymouth Officers Who Shot, Killed Man After Attacking His Mom

"The Plymouth Township Police Officers acted by discharging their firearms to put a stop to what they believed was a lethal threat to themselves and to surrounding bystanders. Our investigation determined the facts of this case supported the use of deadly force," Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele said.

Officers responding to the Plymouth Garden Apartments on Fayette Street in Conshohocken around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 found a woman with multiple stab wounds and 22-year-old Michael Paone, outside, holding what appeared to have been a handgun, authorities said.

Both officers immediately began issuing verbal commands to him, saying: “drop the gun," "step away from the gun," and "step back," DA Steele said.

Paone did not comply with the officers' commands and was shot after he "extended his right arm straight out pointing the gun directly at one of the officers."

While he was on the ground, officers again told Paone to “drop the gun.” Paone ignored their commands, sat up, and extended the gun again toward the officers, authorities said. He was shot again.

Authorities immediately rendered aid to Paone, who was rushed to Suburban Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 1:35 a.m., Aug. 4, authorities said.

A loaded black Crossman Vigilante C02 Air Pistol, a .357 double action, semi-auto revolver, with a six steel-rifled barrel was recovered near Paone, DA Steele said.

Meanwhile, additional Plymouth officers, Conshohocken officers, and civilians rendered aid to Paone’s mother, who suffered numerous stab wounds. 

She was taken to Lankenau Hospital for treatment and is recovering from her injuries, authorities said.

An Aug. 4 autopsy performed by Dr. Gregory McDonald -- a forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office -- confirmed that Paone died of multiple gunshot wounds, the DA's office said. 

Five projectiles were recovered from Paone's body.

A law enforcement officer is “justified in using deadly force only when he believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself or such other person...” according to Section 508 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

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