Off-duty Philadelphia police officer claims self-defense in fatal shooting, documents show

Updated 1 hour ago
ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) -- An off-duty Philadelphia police officer charged in a fatal shooting in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, said he fired in self-defense, court documents show.

Kenroy Cummings, 25, is accused of shooting his uncle to death and then leading police on a high-speed chase on Friday.

Cummings was off-duty at the time of the shooting. He was taken into custody after returning to the shooting scene in Allen Township.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Shakair Moncrieffe.

Police say Moncrieffe and a boy were at the home on Old Gate Drive on Friday afternoon when the boy says Moncrieffe threatened him. The boy contacted several family members, including Cummings, who later came to the home, according to the affidavit of probable cause.



Cummings and Moncrieffe went inside the home, and witnesses say they heard a loud noise inside, police say. They told police they saw Cummings trying to stand up and Moncrieffe pushing him.

The boy went inside and punched Moncrieffe in the face twice, as Moncrieffe "squared up" with him, according to investigators. Cummings then shot Moncrieffe in the head multiple times and fled the home, police say.

Troopers say they spotted Cummings in an orange Kia Forte, weaving in and out of traffic. They turned on their lights and sirens, and Cummings continued to flee, hitting speeds of 100 mph in a 35 mph zone, police say.

Police continued following him as he returned to the scene and stopped in front of the house. A handgun fell out of the driver's side and he was arrested without further incident, police say.

He admitted to shooting Moncrieffe, his uncle, multiple times, and told police the shooting was in self-defense, authorities say. He told police he believed Moncrieffe was reaching for Cummings' gun, which was in his front pants pocket, and that's when Cummings pulled out the gun and shot Moncrieffe.



Cummings was charged with criminal homicide and fleeing/eluding police.
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