DNA Links Cop Killing Suspect To Murder

PHILADELPHIA -- DNA evidence presented in court Thursday linked accused cop killer Solomon Montgomery to the scene of the crime.

Officer Gary Skerski was gunned down during a robbery on May 8 at Pat's Cafe in Philadelphia.

A firearms expert testified that Montgomery's DNA matched DNA found on a shotgun bullet casing that crime investigators found inside Pat's Cafe.

Montgomery, who is charged with capital murder, showed no emotion as prosecutor Jud Conroy said the DNA matched.

"(The evidence) says the defendant actually loaded that shell into the shotgun. It was the last shotgun shell put into the firearm. It was the first one out. And that was the shot that killed Officer Skerski. We know that definitively," Conroy said. The firearms expert said he used bullet fragments taken from the deceased officer, the casing and a DNA swab to find a match. A murder weapon was never found, so the investigator watched a surveillance tape of the robbery preceding the killing to determine that Montgomery allegedly shot Skerski with a sawed-off shotgun and to determine the distance between the barrel of the gun and the 16-year police veteran. "The muzzle of the business end of the shotgun was between 4 and 9 feet from Officer Skerski's neck at the time the shotgun was fired," Conroy said. After three days of evidence, which included statements from Montgomery's family , the mother of his child and people inside the bar who all identified Montgomery as the shooter, the defense said it is not ready to plead guilty. "All options are on the table," said Dan Stevenson, a public defender.

"He is recuperating from being shot by the police officers. We're here to help him get through this process," said Eric Gillson, a public defender. The Skerski and Montgomery families declined comment. Montgomery will be back in court in July.