Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were being held without bail after their arraignment Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Cpl. Timothy O'Connor was a 15-year-veteran of the force and is survived by his wife and daughter, officials said.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were detained by New York City police on Saturday. Authorities said they attempted to ignite suspicious homemade devices during a "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" rally led by Jake Lang, a 30-year-old far-right conservative influencer.
The Feb. 20 off-campus protest of at least 35 teens was originally to take place on school property before school officials withdrew support at the last minute over threats of violence. Several teens, now known collectively as the "Quakertown 5,” are charged with felony aggravated assault and other misdemeanor charges after a fight broke out between the plainclothes chief, students, and other police.
Attorneys are also seeking the immediate dismissal of charges against the students, arguing that they acted in self-defense and defense of others against Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree, who they allege escalated the police confrontation leading to the violence and student arrests.
The attorneys said the students from Quakertown Community High School who were demonstrating against immigration enforcement policies acted in self-defense and will fight the charges. They include a simple assault charge elevated to aggravated assault, a felony, because the alleged victim is Police Chief Scott McElree.
Proposed legislation to increase penalties in Pennsylvania for people who commit crimes while violating protection from abuse orders is opposed by gun rights advocates since it could create lifelong firearms bans.
West York has entered into a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to cooperate on immigration enforcement - something the chief said he did to provide his officers with training about the law and the rules so they wouldn’t be caught unawares should ICE call upon the department for assistance – and the department is catching a lot of flak for it, fueled by misinformation and misunderstanding.
Republican Dave McCormick is calling for a “full investigation” into the shooting.
A 3.3% pay increase that affects scores of state officials also includes Pennsylvania judges at all levels, from magisterial district judges who handle minor offenses, including traffic citations, to the state's court of last resorts.
