Philadelphia Police officer shot, suspect in custody

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — A police officer is in critical condition after he was shot near Overbrook High School.

During a news conference outside of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Wednesday evening, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the suspect, a 30-year-old man, is in custody.

According to Commissioner Bethel, the incident began around 2:42 p.m. Wednesday, when an officer requested backup because of fights outside of the school.

During the incident near North 59th Street and Columbia Avenue, an adult was called in and armed with what police believe is a Ruger-57. Commissioner Bethel said during the news conference that the weapon is capable of penetrating a bulletproof vest.

At some point during the fight, the suspect allegedly fired the gun into the ground. According to the preliminary investigation, the bullet ricocheted and hit the officer under his vest. Bethel said the officer didn’t immediately realize he was shot. The officer was then rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said that the officer was in surgery at the time of the news conference.

Bethel identified the officer shot as a 26-year-old man with just over one year of service to the department. The officer is assigned to the 19th District.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Bethel did not mince words when speaking about the suspect during the news conference.

“Fights after school have been happening since I was a kid, right? But, what I would never do is call an adult to my fight,” Commissioner Bethel said. “You’re a damn adult! You’re supposed to know better. You’re supposed to be the one who has to come in to de-escalate, not escalate.”

No officers fired their weapons, and there are no other known injuries, according to police.

Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5 has released a statement in response to the shooting:

President Roosevelt Poplar and the entire FOP Lodge #5 Executive Board extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery, to our 19th District Officer who was shot in the line of duty this afternoon. We ask you to keep our Officer and his family in your thoughts and prayers.