Man shot multiple times by federal courthouse security officer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A man is in the hospital after he was shot multiple times by a security officer outside of the federal courthouse in Center City. The shooting happened around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near 7th and Arch Streets.
The unidentified man shot by the security officer underwent surgery and is currently listed in critical condition.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals based in Philadelphia says the man who was shot had parked a white Dodge minivan in an area of restricted parking, which is reserved for courthouse employees and law enforcement.
Investigators say the man, described to be in his 40s, had two "edged" weapons on him. Investigators would not detail the nature of those weapons beyond that description.
Federal agents say the man was told to drop those weapons and despite being given those commands they said he continued to advance on the courthouse security officer.
"That vehicle was approached by one of our court security officers who do the court security in and around the courthouse, as that vehicle was approached by courthouse security approximately a 40-year-old white male exited the minivan and brandished two edged weapons towards the court security officer," Robert Clark, U.S. Marshals spokesperson said.
Clark said efforts to diffuse the situation were unsuccessful and the man was shot by the courthouse security officer before falling to the ground.
It's unclear what the man was doing along the block of North 7th Street. With the federal courthouse on one side of the street, a six-story building housing numerous businesses is on the other.
A total of 64 security officers contracted by U.S. Marshals work around the clock to secure the property around the federal building.
"That court security officer feared for his life and discharged his weapon multiple times. The suspect was struck, fell to the ground and he was then taken into custody by other court security officers," Clark said.
"Specifically we're afraid that someone's there and they have hazardous material or they have explosives that could jeopardize the federal building or the courthouse, so it's common practice for us to negotiate those vehicles out of that reserved parking," he added.
The man that was shot is under investigation for assault on a federal officer.
At the same time, the FBI is leading the investigation into the use of force by the courthouse security officer on the man who was shot.
"Our evidence response team is processing, and we will conduct any necessary interviews of parties involved as well as witnesses and the investigation will go forward from there," FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire said.