Montco man shot after standoff with police dies

The 19-year-old man who was shot by police Sunday after an eight-hour standoff and chase in Montgomery County died yesterday, authorities said.

Sean S. Edelman had been in critical condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania since being flown there early Sunday. Montgomery County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Steele said an autopsy would be performed today.

Douglas B. Breidenbach Jr., a lawyer representing the family, said they were "grieving the loss of this young man who was loved by many people." He said the family wanted to express appreciation for the outpouring of support it had received.

"Sean was a designated organ donor, and now has given hope and life to others," Breidenbach said. "It is our understanding that major organs have already been transplanted."

Police said events began at 4:24 p.m. Saturday when officers responded to the Pottstown home of Earl and Amy Peacock, where Edelman had been living, to investigate a report of a man threatening suicide. Edelman was a nephew of the Peacocks, co-owners of Montco Silicon Technologies Inc., a silicon recycling firm in Spring City.

Officers, who saw Edelman with a gun, said they were unable to persuade him to leave the house on Highland Road. Shortly after midnight, Edelman ran out a back door, ignored police commands to stop, jumped into his uncle's Hummer, and accelerated toward the officers, who fired at the vehicle, police said.

After a chase along Route 422, police from several municipalities who had cornered Edelman in a bank parking lot on Egypt Road shot him a number of times after he pointed a handgun at them, police said.

Court records show that Edelman, a former Narberth resident, had brushes with the law since finishing at Lower Merion High School in 2006. He was scheduled to appear in a Chester County district court this month to address charges stemming from an alleged drunken altercation with West Chester police on Sept. 29.

Under a proposed plea deal, Edelman agreed to receive a drug and alcohol evaluation and refrain from criminal conduct so that when he returned to court on Jan. 11, his charges would be reduced, court records said.

On Dec. 13, a Chester County district judge ordered Edelman to perform 30 hours of community service at Lankenau Hospital, where his mother, Victoria Edelman, works as a nurse, for an underage drinking offense.

Court records also show that Edelman was stopped for traffic violations - mostly speeding - six times in the last two years.

Police found a note - apparently authored by Edelman - in the Peacocks' home after the standoff. It said, "I'm sorry I just can't do it any longer. I don't even have credit with you." Authorities had no comment on what it meant.