A Pottstown, Pennsylvania, man was sentenced to 22.5 to 45 years in prison after shooting a police officer during a domestic disturbance on Nov. 15, 2024.
Incident Timeline
At about 2:40 p.m., Pottstown Police Corporal Anthony Fischer and Officer John Schmalbach responded to a reported domestic disturbance at an apartment on the 200 block of Chestnut Street. They found William Ciccoli Jr. and his girlfriend involved in a dispute. The officers separated the couple and provided the girlfriend with domestic‑violence resources. The couple agreed to stay apart.
Officer Schmalbach intended to issue two citations to Ciccoli for harassment and criminal mischief. Later that afternoon, at 4:35 p.m., the officers returned to the same apartment for another disturbance. The girlfriend reported that Ciccoli had grabbed her neck, leaving marks and swelling on her left cheekbone.
When Officer Schmalbach tried to take Ciccoli into custody, Ciccoli allegedly charged at Corporal Fischer. Body‑camera footage shows Fischer saying, “he’s trying to take my gun,” as he struggled with Ciccoli. A taser was used before a gunshot was heard. Corporal Fischer was shot in the right hip. Emergency crews carried him downstairs and transported him to Reading Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Sentencing Details
Judge Thomas DelRicci sentenced Ciccoli to 22.5 to 45 years in prison and ordered him to pay the cost of prosecution. The sentence comprises:
- 20 to 40 years for assault of a law‑enforcement officer with firearm discharged
- 2 to 4 years for disarming a law‑enforcement officer
- 6 months to 1 year for simple assault on a domestic‑violence victim
Aftermath
Ciccoli’s girlfriend and the officers were released after the incident. The shooting of Corporal Fischer was the first fatal police shooting in Montgomery County in recent years.
Key Takeaways
- William Ciccoli Jr. faces 22.5‑45 years in prison after shooting a police officer.
- The incident occurred during two domestic‑disturbance calls on Nov. 15, 2024.
- Corporal Fischer was shot in the right hip and received emergency surgery at Reading Hospital.
