3 Held For Trial In 2010 Shooting Of Philadelphia Police Officer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A 30-year-old Philadelphia police officer has described an ambush shooting during which he was shot in the leg in Kensington last summer.
Three men have been ordered held for trial based on the officer's testimony.
Officer Kevin Livewell (right) says he and his partner were following a van and its occupants, who were suspected in an earlier shooting, when the van pulled over.
"The men came out of the car with assault rifles and began shooting, and almost the first shot is the one that wounded Officer Livewell," says Philadelphia prosecutor Carlos Vega.
Livewell, now recovered, says he looked down and realized a piece of his leg was missing, but still he and his partner managed to get to the sidewalk and exchange gunfire with two men fleeing and firing rifles (see related story).
Police later recovered nine weapons in and near the van including assault rifles (above) and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
One defendant, arrested at the scene, contends he wasn't involved in the shooting. Attorneys for the other two men, arrested later (see related story), have challenged the officer's identification.
Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060.
