Illegal street racing near Penn's Landing ends with Glen Mills man being fatally shot by state police
UPDATE: Interboro HS grad fatally shot by police on I-95 had "kindest soul ever"
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 18-year-old man is dead after being shot by Pennsylvania State Police early Sunday morning during a chaotic night in Philadelphia.
Police said they were called to I-95 near Penn's Landing just before 3:30 a.m. after reports of a group large group blocking the roadway for illegal street racing and stunts.
Before troopers responded, they were notified that there were also reports of shots fired in the area.
Once police arrived, the troopers said they found a "significant number of vehicles illegally blocking the roadway, with others doing burnouts and drifting," as a large crowd of spectators watched.
As troopers were trying to make contact with one of the drivers, police said two troopers were hit by a vehicle. One of the troopers then discharged his service pistol, striking the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
The driver has been identified as 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr., of Glen Mills, state police said.
The troopers struck by the vehicle sustained minor injuries, officials said.
Pennsylvania State Police, as well as the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, are investigating the incident.
State police also said this was just one of several similar incidents throughout the night.
Police responding to racing cars in the city's Bustleton neighborhood encountered a group that they said threw bricks at a police car and damaged the windshield.
Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby said the department needs more officers to respond to these types of incidents.
"Our officers were in danger last night, there were city-wide assists," McNesby said. "There was an officer trapped in a car who had her windshield broken out, there was another shooting on I-95. We also had a major incident in Somerton at Bustleton and Philmont where we had another assist for officers that needed help. And right now, when you call for help, you need people to come. Not only for police, but for the community and right now that's not happening."
"This type of reckless and aggressive behavior cannot and will not be tolerated," Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted about the incidents. "Dangerous actions like these put everyone in our city at risk, especially our officers who work hard to keep our residents safe. This is unacceptable."
