Gunshots fired into Monroeville office of Rosfeld's lawyer

Someone shot as many as eight bullets late Friday at the Monroeville office of Patrick Thomassey, the defense attorney for former East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld, police said.

No suspects have been identified. Monroeville police are seeking information on an unknown vehicle neighbors heard driving away from the James Street scene after the shots were fired just before midnight.

A jury found Rosfeld not guilty Friday night in connection with the shooting death of Antwon Rose II. Rosfeld was on trial for shooting and killing Rose as he ran from a June 19 felony traffic stop in East Pittsburgh.

Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole told the Trib that neighbors reported hearing the shots at 11:58 p.m. The shots came minutes after a police officer, who had been stationed near the attorney’s office as a precaution, was called away for an incident at Monroeville Mall.

Cole said police aren’t sure if someone was watching the office and waiting for the officer to leave.

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“It could be coincidental,” he said. “We don’t believe in coincidence.”

No one was in the office. A window, wall and furniture inside were damaged, Cole said. He said bullet holes were found in a window and siding in front of the office. A tree also might have been struck, he said.

He said police and the Allegheny County crime lab recovered evidence from the scene, but he declined to release specifics.

He said the shooting was reported not more than 10 minutes after the officer departed for the mall, where a person had erroneously been reported missing.

There was no damage to another business that occupies a lower level of the building, Cole said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Monroeville police at 412-856-1111.