Sandy MalonePhiladelphia, PA – The man who shot a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) police officer and two women in the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday night was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident began at about 7 p.m. on April 6 when officers responded to a report of gunshots near the Arrott Transportation Center in Frankford, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Responding officers found a 42-year-old woman and a 57-year-old woman suffering from gunshot wounds near the intersection of Arrott and Griscom Streets.
Officers chased the man believed to be the suspect four blocks and he ran into an apartment building on Leiper Street, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Marcellous Andrews said he was resting in his apartment when a man started banging on his door.
“Open the door!” the man yelled, according to Andrew.
Then the man hit Andrews’ front door with so much force that it splintered the wood, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Andrews said the man looked briefly at him as he rushed into the living room, but the resident didn’t stick around and ran out of the building.
Police told him to take cover as the intruder smashed out the window of Andrews’ second-floor apartment in the 4700-block of Leiper Street, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Then the suspect opened fire on police officers outside.
NEW VIDEO: A gunman perched in a window opens fire at police officers in Frankford, Philadelphia. You can see the suspect in the window, bullets firing
A @SEPTA officer was shot, rushed to Temple — SWAT teams have the house surrounded, @ABaskerville10 on scene @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/OtzUbth4TO
— Randy Gyllenhaal (@RandyGyllenhaal) April 7, 2022
Police returned fire and a shootout ensued that went on for more than an hour, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Septa officer shot, a gunman firing at officers out of a second story window. Talked to a relative of the gunman. She tells me she just wants him to turn himself. She tried calling him but no answer. The standoff continues on Leiper in Frankford @NBCPhiladelphia at 11pm pic.twitter.com/XTLPXqym8h
— Aaron Baskerville (@ABaskerville10) April 7, 2022
The gunman was later found inside the apartment dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to officials.
2/3 WATCH: After “major shootout” with @PhillyPolice and @septa transit officer shot&wounded, SWAT went inside corner apartment building and found him dead of “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head close to 2nd floor window.” @fox29philly pic.twitter.com/5s5b3AgzZV
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) April 7, 2022
Police said 28-year-old SEPTA Police Officer Ervis Onuzi was shot in the abdomen during the gunfight.
The officer was transported to Temple University Hospital for treatment and was in stable condition on Thursday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Multiple officers were pinned down behind a vehicle during the standoff but they were ultimately rescued by an armored SWAT vehicle.
One of the female victims was shot in the hip and the other was shot in the buttocks, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Police said both women were in stable condition.
Officials said the wounded officer had not fired any shots in the gun battle, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Officer Onuzi is a three-year veteran of the transit police.
Officers waiting for news outside the hospital broke into applause when they received the news that Officer Onuzi was expected to survive his wounds.
Applause just broke out amongst @SEPTA Police gathered outside of the ER in support of the injured officer. @6abc We’re waiting to hear an update. pic.twitter.com/DdhYJ51KS8
— Annie McCormick (@6abcAnnie) April 7, 2022
“It was a harrowing night,” SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel III told reporters at the scene.
Holly Matkin
