Attempted Murder Charges For Yardley Man In Police Chief Shooting

YARDLEY, PA — A suspect has been charged in the shooting of a police chief that led to an hours-long shelter-in-place order at Yardley Commons on Wednesday.

Colin Frank Petroziello, 24, was arraigned Wednesday night on attempted murder and other charges, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

A Bucks County probation officer, Cristina Viviano, had been conducting an offender check at Petroziello's apartment on Wednesday morning. When she heard slamming doors and arguing, the DA said she called for assistance.

Yardley Police Chief Joseph Kelly III arrived on the scene. After knocking on the front door, he was shot in the hand and ear. He was brought to St. Mary Medical Center, where he is now recovering.

The DA said Petroziello fired a shotgun through the front door of his apartment before barricading himself and his mother inside their unit in the 800 block of Yardley Commons.

More than an hour after the shooting, Petroziello's mother, who still had her cellphone, told police that Petroziello had fallen asleep. She threw the shotgun out the window, according to the DA, before escaping out the window herself.

At 3:30 p.m., the South Central Bucks County Emergency Response Team made a forced entry into Petroziello's unit and took him into custody, ending a standoff and shelter in place order for residents that lasted more than 4 hours. The DA said that SERT members took a loaded .45-caliber handgun that had been tucked in his waistband, and that a second loaded magazine was found in his pants pocket. Bucks County Detectives served a search warrant and located brass knuckles inside his Petroziello's bedroom.

A background check revealed Petroziello was twice committed on involuntary mental health commitments, making him ineligible to possess a firearm under Pennsylvania law.

Petroziello faces charges including attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, two counts of attempted murder, and six counts of aggravated assault. He is also charged with assault of a law enforcement officer, persons not to possess a firearm, false imprisonment, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of an instrument of crime.

Bucks County Detectives led the investigation with the assistance of Lower Makefield Township Police Department, Yardley Borough Police Department, Newtown Township Police Department, the South Central Bucks County Emergency Response Team, and Pennsylvania State Police.

Magisterial District Judge Joseph P. Falcone arraigned Petroziello, denied him bail, and sent him to Bucks County Correctional Facility. First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer M. Schorn is assigned to prosecute the case.

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