Police return Francis to Allegheny County

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

The alleged shooter of a McKeesport Police Officer has been returned to Allegheny County.

Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies headed to the North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Clarksburg, W.Va. Friday morning to pick up Koby Francis, 22, of McKeesport who is charged with shooting a McKeesport police officer five days before Christmas. 

Francis arrived at the Allegheny County Jail around 11:30 a.m.

He is accused of shooting Officer Gerasimos “Jerry” Athans, 32, outside the main entrance to the McKeesport police station with a gun he was allegedly able to conceal after being taken into custody for a Protection From Abuse order violation earlier the same day, according to Allegheny County Police.

Athans, who was struck by three rounds, was released from a Pittsburgh-area hospital Dec. 21. 

Francis is charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt homicide, person not to possess a firearm, flight to avoid apprehension trial or punishment and escape. He will appear for a preliminary hearing at an undetermined date before Magisterial District Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.

The shooting happened just after 4 p.m. Dec. 20 as Athans returned to the station with Francis handcuffed in the backseat. When the officer opened the back door to remove Francis from the car, surveillance footage appears to show that Athans was shot almost immediately. 

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