Police officer who killed bystander after Pennsylvania shooting sentenced to probation

An off-duty police officer who killed a bystander by striking him in the chest and knocking him to the ground as the victim tried to give Beaver county, Pennsylvania, investigators information about a shooting has been ordered to serve five years’ probation.

John J Hawk, 38, received the sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the November 2022 attack outside a Walmart that led to the death of Kenneth Vinyard, 48. Hawk also pleaded guilty to assault and reckless endangerment.

At the sentencing, Vinyard’s family described him as the family glue, according to Pennsylvania attorney general, Dave Sunday.

“This sworn officer’s actions contributed to the death of a man who was not a threat to anyone at the scene of this shooting,” Sunday said in a statement.

Hawk, an officer in Center Township, was in civilian clothing when he confronted Vinyard as the victim spoke to police, Sunday said. Vinyard died upon arrival at a hospital.

Hawk apologized to the victim’s family at his sentencing. His lawyer, Stephen Colafella, said his client had been “grappling with” Vinyard’s death before deciding to enter a plea. “I think a lot of people got closure today,” Colafella said on Tuesday evening, noting that Hawk and the victim’s fiancee embraced in court.

Colafella said Hawk is no longer on the Center Township police force. The Pennsylvania news station WPXI reported that Vinyard’s family settled a lawsuit against Center Township and Hawk for nearly $1m.

“I hope that he can move on and have a good life with his family,” Vinyard’s fiancee, Marcy Beatty, told WTAE-TV. “Ours is broken, and it will take a long time for that to heal.”

One person suffered a gunshot wound in the 6 November 2022 shooting at Walmart for which Vinyard was trying to provide information to police, authorities said at the time.

At the time Vinyard was mortally injured, he had approached an officer about potential evidence. Hawk, who was neither working nor in uniform, pulled Vinyard away from the officer, Sunday’s office said.

Hawk then struck Vinyard in the chest and performed a leg-sweep maneuver that caused Vinyard to fall and strike his head on the ground.

Vinyard later died at a local hospital. Authorities said Vinyard’s death result from blunt force trauma and stress inflicted on him by Hawk.

Hawk’s trial in Vinyard’s death was supposed to start on Tuesday when he instead pleaded guilty.

Sunday’s office said the sentence that Hawk received was at the discretion of state judge Richard Mancini, and there was no agreement as to the punishment between prosecutors and the defendant.

The Associated Press contributed reporting