LOWER MERION — Lower Merion Township police fatally shot a former Morton police officer wanted by state authorities for alleged child rape in Delaware County in what the Delco DA described as “suicide by cop.”

Lower Merion police were on patrol Wednesday shortly before 4 a.m. on Old Lancaster Road in the Bala Cynwyd section of the township when they spotted a vehicle that belonged to 38-year-old Francis C. Collier, who was wanted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office on charges of rape of a child, according to authorities.

The officers saw Collier returning to his vehicle, and when they confronted him, Collier fired at the officers, who returned fire and fatally wounded Collier, according to a release issued by District Attorney Kevin R. Steele on Wednesday morning.

“Per protocol for officer-involved shootings in the county, Montgomery County Detectives responded to the scene and are investigating the shooting,” Steele wrote in the news release.

Charges were filed Tuesday against Collier, with a Bala Cynwyd address, in the court of Magisterial District Judge Gabriella Coleman in Secane. There was no arraignment information.

The charges were aggravated indecent assault with complaint less than 13 years old, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, endangering the welfare of children by parent/guardian, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and simple assault charges were filed with the offense date listed as Dec. 1.

The girls were as young as 5 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, which occurred between 2001 and 2004. Collier, a teenager at the time, knew the girls’ families and had access to the girls at the time, according to authorities.

The charges were filed by Special Agent Daniel C. Shead of the attorney general’s office. Representatives for the attorney general’s office could not be reached for comment on Wednesday morning.

Morton Police Chief Kenneth Lawless had this statement Wednesday:

“The Morton Police Department was contacted in December 2025 by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office regarding an investigation into then-officer Francis Collier.

“The investigation was related to criminal allegations of an incident(s) that took place many years ago when Francis Collier may have been a teenager. Collier was immediately placed on unpaid administrative leave and he subsequently resigned from the Morton Police Department on Dec. 19.

“On Feb. 24, Morton police became aware that Francis Collier had been charged criminally by the Pennsylvania State Attorney General’s Office. The charges are related to the incident(s) investigated and already referenced. There had been no allegations of criminal conduct against him during his tenure as a Morton police officer.

“The Morton Police Department is deeply troubled by the serious allegations against a former officer. The conduct described in the charges is profoundly disturbing and wholly inconsistent with the standards and values expected of those who serve our community.

“Although this individual is no longer employed by the department, we are fully cooperating with all appropriate law enforcement authorities. Our department remains steadfast in its mission to protect the safety, dignity, and rights of all members of our community.”

Further specifics about the charges against Collier were not available.

Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said in a statement that, “These allegations represent profound violations of trust and have doubtlessly caused unfathomable harm.

Rouse said Collier “reportedly engaged in actions that led to what has been described as ‘suicide by cop.’ ”

“Although the defendant’s death brings the criminal case to an end, it does not erase the seriousness of the allegations or the harm that he caused. We recognize the immense courage it takes to speak out, and we remain committed to supporting survivors,” Rouse added, and thanked the AG’s office and the collaboration with the office that “helped ensure all necessary actions were taken.”