A Philadelphia officer is fighting for his life after being shot during a chaotic scene near Overbrook High School, where students were fighting on Wednesday afternoon. The incident unfolded just outside the school during dismissal when multiple fights broke out among students near the 1900 block of North 59th Street.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel confirmed that officers had responded to emergency calls regarding altercations near the school. According to a report, officers arrived to find multiple students fighting and quickly intervened.
Footage of the chaos shows the officers attempting to restore order among the rowdy and violent students. A gunshot is heard, prompting students to scream and scatter. The suspected shooter is later seen face down on the ground as officers detain him.
A CBS report, citing Bethel, said that the shooter was identified as a 30-year-old man. Amid the commotion, the suspect reportedly entered the crowd carrying a Ruger-57, a high-powered semi-automatic pistol known for its ability to penetrate bulletproof vests. Bethel described the gun as a ‘very deadly weapon” for police.
Bethel said that the man was seemingly aiming his weapon at the ground when he discharged it. However, the cartridge ricocheted and struck an officer, penetrating his protective vest and causing serious internal injuries. The officer, who is 26 years old, was initially unaware he had been shot.
When the wound came to his and his colleague’s attention, he was quickly transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Centre, where he underwent emergency surgery. The rookie police officer remains in critical condition. No other officers were injured, and no gunshots were fired by the officers at the scene, CBS reported.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect was apprehended on the scene, and the firearm has been recovered. The motive behind the suspect’s presence at the school or his intent remains under investigation.
Commissioner Bethel praised the officers involved for their restraint and bravery. “When I sit there and watch the video and watch what they endured and watch their response to that in the moment, I am proud of these men and women and what they endured,” he said.
