Man Critical After Being Shot By Police In West Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Officials are investigating an overnight police-involved shooting that occurred in West Philadelphia.
The incident happened just before 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of Lansdowne Avenue in the Overbrook section of the city.
According to authorities, full uniform officers responded to the call of a fight on the highway. When officers arrived, police say they saw a 22-year-old man acting suspicious in front of an apartment and asked the man to show his hands and raise his t-shirt.
Officers say the suspect shook his t-shirt instead of raising it and when police began to exit their vehicle the man fled to the 5600 block of Lansdowne Avenue, clutching his waistband.
Officials say one of the police officers chased after the suspect and saw him turn around with a revolver in his hand. Authorities confirm the officer pulled out his weapon and began firing at the suspect.
As the suspect continued to flee he allegedly turned around again, still holding the gun, and the officer once again fired several round.
Police say when the armed suspect turned the corner at 57th Street the officer grabbed him, but then fired several more shots when the suspect once again turned towards the officer while holding a gun.
Authorities say the man was hit multiple times, fell to the ground and dropped a Taurus .357 revolver which was loaded with seven live rounds.
Police confirm that a second gun, a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver loaded with five live rounds, was found when the man was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition.
Officials say the officer suffered an abrasion to his left hand. He has been placed on administrative duty while the incident is investigated.
The Philadelphia Police Department will soon be the subject of a review, designed to decrease the number of police-involved shootings, by a special unit at the U.S. Department of Justice (see related story).
