Warminster Cop's Morning Shooting of Home Invader Ruled Self-Defense

Editor's Note: The article has been updated with new police information.

An off-duty, Buck County police officer shot and killed one person who attempted to rob his Andorra home, while another alleged burglar stole his car, Philadelphia Police said.

Police confirmed that an unidentified Warminster Police Department officer shot and killed Edward Mehlberger, 39, who entered his home on the 8700 block of Sagamore Road at 3:50 a.m. Monday.

Police spokesperson Officer Tanya Little said the officer and his wife were asleep when he was awoken by a commotion near his vehicle early Monday morning. He went outside and saw Tim Zgrzepski, 29, near his 2001 Honda Odyssey and got into a confrontation with him.

The officer returned indoors to retrieve his weapon and found Mehlberger in his house. Little said he shot and killed the man. The other man fled in the officer's vehicle.

Police said Zgrzepski, from the 2600 block of Kensington Ave., abandoned the vehicle at Old Line and Manatawna Roads in Andorra. Later, police apprehended him in Springfield Township. Office Jillian Russell said his charges were not immediately available.

Officials arrived at the Sagamore Road home near 4 a.m., and pronounced Mehlberger, from 3100 N. Custer St., dead at 4:12 a.m., Little said.

Neither the officer nor his wife were injured in the incident, police said. Little said no charges will be filed against the officer as he was protecting his home.

Police declined to release the name of the Warminster officer as he was a victim, Little said. Warminster Police declined commenting on the incident.