'Cop Lives Don't Matter' Spray-Painted On Fence In West Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are searching for the vandals responsible for spray-painting anti-police graffiti in West Philadelphia.
The phrase "Cop Live Don't Matter" was spray-painted on a fence along Baltimore Avenue.
A second anti-police message was spray-painted on a nearby church that read "F*** COPS."
A third piece of graffiti was spray-painted on the side of a building that read "PPD Killed Brandon Tate-Brown."
Brandon Tate-Brown, 26, was shot and killed during an altercation with police in Northeast Philadelphia early Monday morning.
The incident took place at about 3 a.m. in the 6700 block of Frankford Avenue in the city's Mayfair section.
According to police, two officers in a marked car pulled Tate-Brown over for a traffic violation. He was driving a white Dodge Charger with Florida plates. Authorities believe the Charger was a rental car.
Captain George Fuchs says evidence technicians found a handgun inside of his car.
"Totally visible, it's the butt of a gun that's actually in the console between the passenger seat, kind of stuck down the middle between the console and the passenger seat," he said.
The officer reportedly asked Tate-Brown to exit the car, and when he did, a struggle ensued between him and the officers. Police say Tate-Brown forced his way back to his vehicle and attempted to get his gun when one of the officers fired his weapon, striking the suspect once in the head.
Police say the suspect's gun was recovered inside the vehicle. It is a Taurus, .22 caliber, SAP, containing eight (8) live rounds and was reported stolen on July 8, 2013.
Investigators said Tate-Brown had four priors -- two for Attempted Murder and related charges (including Violation of Uniforms Firearms Act), Theft and Receiving Stolen Property.
The investigation into Friday's graffiti is ongoing.
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