Penn Cleared of Murder in Officer’s Death

A Superior Court jury today cleared 24-year-old Sagon Penn of first- and second-degree murder in the slaying of a policeman and of attempting to murder another officer in a case that raised allegations of racism and brutality.

But the panel was hung on other counts, including the wounding of a civilian who was in one officer’s patrol car during the March 31, 1985, shooting.

The jury returned its verdict about noon on the 27th day of deliberations, finding Penn innocent of first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the shooting of police Agent Thomas Riggs, 27. The jury was hung on a count of voluntary manslaughter in Riggs’ death.

Attempted Murder Charge

Penn was found innocent of attempted murder in the shooting of police Agent Donovan Jacobs, 29, but the jurors were hung on the optional charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

The panel was also hung on each of three options in the shooting of civilian Sarah Pina-Ruiz, 34. It was unable to reach agreement on attempted murder, attempted voluntary manslaughter or assault with a deadly weapon.

Penn, a martial-arts expert, maintained he shot the officers after they provoked him with racial slurs and beat him with their fists and batons when they stopped his car for an alleged traffic violation.