Montco cop charged in shooting
A Plymouth Township police officer - whose gun was allegedly used in a tragic shooting at a Northeast Philadelphia Super Bowl party in February in which his brother-in-law was killed - has been charged with recklessly endangering another person.
A Plymouth Township police officer - whose gun was allegedly used in a tragic shooting at a Northeast Philadelphia Super Bowl party in February in which his brother-in-law was killed - has been charged with recklessly endangering another person.
Christopher Surma, 29, was arrested on the misdemeanor count on Wednesday, police yesterday confirmed. Surma, who has a Northeast Philadelphia address, was released on unsecured bail, according to court records.
Surma was off duty during the Feb. 1 game and is accused of having placed a gun, not his service weapon, on a table at his brother-in-law Christopher Donaghy's house on Bleigh Avenue near Crispin Street, in Holmesburg.
Ronald Parncutt, a friend of Donaghy's, who lived two doors away from Donaghy, then allegedly picked up the gun, toyed with it, and shot Donaghy, 27, in the back about 8:50 p.m. as Donaghy was watching the game.
Donaghy was the son of a Philadelphia police officer.
Parncutt, 50, has been held for trial on third-degree murder and related offenses.
Police have said that Surma's gun lacked an external safety.
Surma has been placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation. *