No criminal charges will be filed against a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who shot and killed an East Huntingdon Township woman in the doorway of her home last February.
Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha announced Wednesday that he determined Trooper Angelo Bonesio, 31, of Hempfield Township, was justified in using deadly force when he shot Bonnie F. Bugosh.
"It's taken me 3 1/2 months to reach this decision. It took Trooper Bonesio 3 1/2 seconds to make his decision. I've concluded his choice was correct. It's very unfortunate a life had to be taken, but he probably saved the life of himself, his partner, a neighbor and her daughter," Bacha said.
The coroner's finding came nearly two weeks after he conducted Westmoreland County's first inquest in more than eight years. Bacha said he will conduct coroner's inquests into all police shootings.
Bugosh was killed Feb. 23 when she answered her door at the Laurel Hill Apartments near Scottdale brandishing a shotgun.
Witnesses testified that after repeated calls by police, Bugosh first threatened to kill them, then pointed a shotgun out of her door at the officers. Bonesio testified at the inquest that when he saw a gun he feared for his life, reached for his weapon and fired once. The shot struck Bugosh in the chest, and she died.
Based on findings from Westmoreland County Senior Judge Gilfert Mihalich, who presided over the inquest, Bacha determined Bonesio had no other option but to shoot that morning.
Mihalich submitted a six-page report in which he recommended no charges be filed against Bonesio. The judge wrote that he found the testimony of both Bonesio and his partner, Trooper Brian Fleck, to be credible.
"Furthermore, these terrifying beliefs were reasonable and expected responses to the circumstances confronting Trooper Bonesio," Mihalich wrote.
District Attorney John Peck is not bound to follow Bacha's recommendation but said yesterday he, too, concluded Bonesio was justified in using deadly force. Peck, who questioned witnesses during the inquest, indicated that no charges would be filed against the trooper.
"We can't explain the reason Ms. Bugosh came to the door with a weapon that may have been loaded, but she did come to the door armed and did threaten the officers," Peck said.
Bonesio, a nine-year veteran of the state police force, said he was relieved with the inquest's findings.
"Obviously I'm pleased, but it's basically as I expected. I believe the system did work. It's obviously been difficult on me and my family as well," Bonesio said.
Since the shooting, Bonesio has been on administrative duty. Capt. Frank Monaco, commander of the Greensburg barracks where Bonesio serves, said yesterday he would be returned soon to regular patrol duty.
Some of the people attending the inquest moaned when Bacha announced his recommendation.
"I'm very disappointed. My mom was a great woman. We consulted an attorney and plan on pursuing this civilly," said Kendra Bugosh, the dead woman's daughter.
Kendra Bugosh, 20, testified during the inquest that she was home with three of her friends several hours before the shooting. She said another man came to the apartment she shared with her mother and started to fight with her fiance, Michael Brown.
After the fight, that man fled but left his keys behind. Kendra Bugosh and her friends feared the man would return and vandalize their cars, so they left to take them to a safe location.
Before leaving, they called the police to report the incident. They left Bonnie Bugosh home alone with a shotgun Brown previously had stored in the apartment.
Police came to the Bugosh apartment shortly after 1:20 a.m. in response to the earlier call.
Kendra Bugosh and her friends said they saw Bonnie Bugosh drink only one beer before they left her. Authorities believe she had substantially more to drink that night.
According to a toxicology report, her blood-alcohol level was 0.267 percent, which is more than 2 1/2 times the limit at which a Pennsylvania motorist is considered to be intoxicated.
Dr. Charles A. Winek, a forensic toxicologist, testified at the inquest that the amount of alcohol Bugosh had in her system was equivalent to her consuming 8 1/2 12-ounce beers.
