Off-Duty Officer Shoots At Armed Suspect During Attempted Robbery In Overbrook
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police say an off-duty Philadelphia officer opened fire on an armed suspect who attempted to rob him late Wednesday night on the Overbrook section of the city.
This happened around 11:45 p.m. on the 5800 block of Malvern Avenue.
Police say after work, the officer was walking his dog when the suspect approached the officer from behind. The officer then drew his weapon when he saw the suspect was armed and both exchanged gunfire. The officer fired eight times.
"It would appear the assailant took him for a victim," says Philadelphia police captain Anthony Ginaldi. "He was pretty much surprised when he found out he was going to rob an off-duty police officer."
The suspect took cover behind a car during the exchange, then fled the scene, police say.
The officer was not struck during the incident and it is unknown at this time if the suspect was struck. Police have an alert out to area hospitals and have also called out the K-9 unit.
The suspect remains at large and police are reminding people to be aware of their surroundings as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
The officer involved is a five-year veteran for Philadelphia Police and served a total of seven years in local law enforcement.
This incident happened a little over a mile away from where a father was shot and killed while walking his dog last month.