No charges for Hatboro councilman who shot alleged robber
The Hatboro councilman who chased and shot an alleged bank robber will not face criminal charges, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced Monday.
The Hatboro councilman who chased and shot an alleged bank robber will not face criminal charges, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced Monday.
In a statement, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said evidence supported George Forgeng's claim that the shooting was in self-defense and a reasonable use of non-deadly force.
Forgeng, 60, told police he was driving in July when he saw a dye pack explode near a TD Bank that had been robbed before. Nearby, he saw a man running with a bag.
Forgeng said he got out of his car and chased Kevin Way, 30, into a parking lot, where he shot Way in a shoulder and arm.
According to prosecutors, Forgeng said that after he confronted Way in the parking lot, Way began walking toward him and said, "Go ahead and shoot me."
Forgeng has a concealed carry permit for his Glock 9mm handgun.
He told prosecutors that he feared Way had a gun in his bag and that he intentionally aimed for Way's arm "because he did not want to kill the man."
Way, who was unarmed, told prosecutors that he turned around, but was not advancing toward Forgeng when Forgeng fired.
Witnesses largely corroborated Forgeng's account, and said he was yelling for bystanders to call police as he tailed Way with his gun drawn, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Way was charged the next day with bank robbery and related charges, and is awaiting trial. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Forgeng, a teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, was appointed in May to fill a vacancy on the all-Republican Hatboro council. He is running for election in November.
Both he and the borough stressed that Forgeng was acting as a private citizen, not a government official.
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