William Panas Sr. and Karen Panas broke down in tears yesterday when prosecutors told them that now-fired police officer Frank Tepper is being charged with murder in last year's shooting death of their only son.

"Ecstatic crying," Karen said, recalling the visit by prosecutors from the district attorney's Homicide Unit.

After prosecutors left, Karen, standing on the porch of her Port Richmond house, pumped her arms up in the air and shouted: "Who Dat Tepper!" mimicking the New Orleans Saints chant.

Her husband, who was inside their tan-brick rowhouse on Cedar Street near Clearfield, yelled to his wife: "You go, girl!"

The announcement by the D.A.'s Office was greeted with joy by the Panas family and their many relatives and friends, who streamed in and out of their home in a show of support.

The relatively swift decision represented a sea change under the new administration of District Attorney Seth Williams.

Williams said at a news conference that an arrest warrant had been issued yesterday morning for Tepper on the charges of "murder generally," which includes first-degree murder, and on related offenses. He said that Tepper was to surrender to police within 24 hours.

Defense attorney Fortunato "Fred" Perri Jr., who has been retained by Tepper, said afterward that his client is "obviously surprised at the charges."

He said that Tepper will surrender by this morning.

Williams also said that he had determined "that the use of a grand jury was unnecessary" in the case. He said that he made his decision after reviewing the police Homicide Division's initial investigation into the shooting and his own office's investigation.

The grand jury, which is still reviewing other cases, had not heard evidence in the Tepper case since Jan. 4, the day Williams was sworn in as D.A.

In December, then-District Attorney Lynne Abraham announced that she was giving the case to a grand jury as the best way to ensure public confidence in the investigation.

Police Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said at the D.A.'s news conference that Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey "is in total agreement with the D.A.'s decision" and "the Police Department is in agreement with the way the D.A. handled this case."

Tepper was fired from the department Jan. 29, according to police public affairs.

Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby said of the D.A.'s announcement: "They reviewed the case and it's moving on to the next step. It's going to court. It's going to go to the jury and they'll have the final say."

Yesterday, at his home, Panas Sr. thanked the new district attorney. "I do commend the D.A., Mr. Seth Williams, and his associates for a job well done," he said. "At least, I can say right now, Mr. Williams is a man of his word. He said he would make changes and he has very quickly."

It was about 11 p.m. Nov. 21 when an off-duty Tepper, 43, shot and killed an unarmed Billy Panas Jr., 21, outside Tepper's home on Elkhart Street near Edgemont, in Port Richmond, during a neighborhood melee.

Attorney Perri yesterday said Tepper "reacted" after "he was assaulted by a group of individuals in front of his home."

Panas Sr. and his wife yesterday were dressed in blue-and-white T-shirts - the colors of the Indianapolis Colts, their son's favorite team. The shirts had their son's name on the front and his last name on the back.

They said that they first received word Thursday from the D.A.'s office that prosecutors wanted to meet with them. But, it wasn't until yesterday morning that they got the news in person from Homicide Unit Chief Ann Ponterio and Assistant District Attorney Ed Cameron that Tepper was to be charged, they said.

"My stomach was all weekend in a knot," Karen Panas said.

Panas Jr.'s sister, Lauren, 24, said that she was relieved. She said that her brother's girlfriend, Sheena Leo, 20, "was really happy."

Williams, asked yesterday about Sgt. Chauncey Ellison, another police officer who was off-duty when he shot an unarmed man, would only say: "It's safe to say that we are reviewing and examining similar cases [to the Tepper case] . . . and at the appropriate time" will announce any findings.