Suspect Wounded In Police-Involved Shooting In Kensington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia police officer shoots a suspect in Kensington and police believe it was justified.
The suspect, according to police, was wanted in connection with an earlier shooting.
Police say the 27-year-old suspect used a semi-automatic handgun and shot at the officer first, leaving two bullet holes on the driver side of the police car. The officer returned fire, hitting the suspect twice – once on his chest, the other bullet left a graze wound on his head.
Chief Inspector Scott Small with the Philadelphia Police Department said, "The female officer is very very lucky to be alive. He shot from a very very close distance, like ten feet, almost hitting the officer in the head. We know she fired at least one shot from inside the police car which is difficult to do."
This shooting occurred just after 4 o'clock Monday afternoon on the 2900 block of D Street. Police say officers were out looking for a gunman involved in a separate shooting.
Chief Small explained, "They say it was a male in his 20s, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black shorts. When the officer pulled her vehicle up to this male, the male fired twice, striking the police vehicle. We believe based on our preliminary information that this is the same suspect that had shot and robbed the female just moments prior."
Police say a 37-year-old woman had just gotten out of a car on Ruth and Sommerset Streets when eyewitnesses say she was shot and robbed about 2 blocks away.
Minutes later, Rafael Martinez who owns Taneres Grocery Store on D Street heard multiple gunshots.
"I know something happened when I heard the gun," Martinez said.
Martinez says his surveillance video caught a man running away from the police involved shooting. Martinez believes the man was with the shooting suspect. Police say they are investigating.
"They may possibly be suspects or they may have been people who were trying to run out of the way because they were frightened," Chief Small said.
As of Monday night, the suspect and his robbery victim were listed in critical condition at Temple University Hospital.
The officer was not injured. Police are withholding all names but did confirm the officer has been on the force nine years, assigned to the 24th Police District.
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
