Holly MatkinPhiladelphia, PA – Three Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) SWAT officers were shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a homicide suspect early Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred in the 800-block of North 10th Street at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, WPVI reported.
PPD First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford said during a press conference on Wednesday that officers were attempting to serve a warrant on an unnamed 19-year-old suspect in connection with a homicide when the suspect opened fire on them through a window and a door, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“Officers were able to continue to breach the property where they took on more gunfire from this individual,” Deputy Commissioner Stanford said, according to WPVI.
Three officers were hit during the attack.
One officer was shot in the leg, another was hit in the hip, and the third officer was shot in his upper chest by a bullet that ricocheted off of his ballistic vest, WPVI reported.
Deputy Commissioner Stanford said the gunman attempted to flee out of the back of the property, where he encountered SWAT officers who were positioned at that location.
The suspect allegedly opened fire on the officers, who immediately returned fire, WPVI reported.
The gunman was struck by gunfire and transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:32 a.m., according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The three wounded officers were rushed to Jefferson University Hospital in the wake of the attack, WPVI reported.
They have all since been listed in stable condition.
“Two of our officers will be released, hopefully, by the end of the day,” Deputy Commissioner Stanford said, according to WPVI. “The other officer will be admitted for some continuous observation.”
The PPD did not immediately release the 19-year-old suspect’s name, but confirmed he was wanted for a homicide that took place in August.
He was also wanted in connection for multiple armed robberies, according to investigators.
Police were seen bringing children out of the house in the wake of the shootout, WPVI reported.
They also took two other individuals from the home in handcuffs, according to the news outlet.
“Our officers continue to work every single day and every single night, to work their best, to be brave, to put themselves in harm’s way, and to do that for us,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney told WPVI on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner Stanford said more needs to be done to hold violent offenders accountable for the crimes they commit.
“At the end of the day it comes down to some folks – not everybody, I want to very clear about that, not everybody deserves to be in jail – but some folks that have a lengthy record, they deserve to be in jail,” he said, according to WTXF. “There are too many innocent citizens that essentially their lives are at risk every day because there isn’t any accountability.”
“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t either have a child that’s shot, or multiple people shot, because there are too many people out here carrying guns, and they don’t have consequences,” the deputy commissioner continued.
“These officers sign up to do a job, [which] is protect and serve, but not to take gunfire, and at some point, enough becomes enough,” Deputy Commissioner Stanford added. “I think we’ve reached that point.”
North Philadelphia street closed off after 3 SWAT officers were shot serving a warrant this AM. Officers are stable. Another person was shot as well, no word on condition. pic.twitter.com/AFgDxXueCD
— Katherine Scott (@KScott6abc) October 12, 2022
🚨 THREE OFFICERS DOWN: Please pray for the 3 Philadelphia Police SWAT officers who were shot this morning while serving a warrant. Reports indicate they were rushed to the hospital and are in stable condition.
The out of control violence against the police MUST STOP! #NoMore pic.twitter.com/gAjb6pCVGx
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) October 12, 2022
Thoughts and prayers are with the three Philadelphia Police Department SWAT officers shot serving a homicide warrant in North Philadelphia this morning and best wishes for their speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/iYTn2ceKeH
— North Wildwood PD (@NorthWildwoodPD) October 12, 2022
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