Prosecutors reject guilty plea offer from accused killer of Penn Hills officer

PENN HILLS, Pa. — The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday rejected a guilty plea offer from the attorneys of a man representing a Homewood man accused of slaying a Penn Hills police officer.

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office, said the attorneys offered to have Ronald Robinson, 35, plead guilty and serve two life terms. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.

Jury selection in the case began Monday and five jurors have been seated. The trial is scheduled to be heard before Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.

Prosecutors charged Robinson with shooting and killing Danyal Morton, 40, of Penn Hills, and Officer Michael Crawshaw, 32, on Dec. 6, 2009.

Police said Robinson killed Morton in a Penn Hills home over a $500 drug debt, then left the house and fired at Crawshaw -- the first officer to respond -- striking him several times while he still was in his patrol car.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

Related Stories:

• Man accused of killing Penn Hills cop has trial moved to Nov. 26

• Man set for trial in Penn Hills officer slaying found 'unresponsive' in jail cell

• Jury selection delayed in trial against man accused of killing Penn Hills officer

WPXI