Additional Coverage:
- Philadelphia police officer in critical condition after being shot in Kensington; suspect in custody (newsbreak.com)
A suspect has been detained following an incident in which a Philadelphia police officer was critically wounded by gunfire on Saturday evening in the city’s Kensington area.
According to authorities, the altercation occurred just before 8 p.m. on the 3500 block of F Street, where two officers were engaging with four individuals during a routine traffic check.
During the interaction, the officers noticed a holster, which prompted one individual to run from the site. The fleeing suspect then discharged a firearm three times towards the officers, striking one of them in the neck. The injured officer’s partner responded by opening fire on the assailant before hurriedly transporting his colleague to Temple University Hospital.
Currently, the injured officer is battling life-threatening injuries in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, addressing the media outside Temple University Hospital late on Saturday, conveyed his deep concerns and emotions about the dangers his officers face. In a poignant recount of earlier events, Bethel revealed that approximately 75 to 100 officers from the East Division had joined together in prayer for their wounded comrade, led by Commissioner Stanford. Bethel appealed to the Philadelphia community at large to offer prayers for the officer’s recovery.
Details about the injured officer revealed that he is 31 years old and has served on the police force for six years, though his name remains undisclosed.
In addition to the suspect implicated in the shooting, the individuals who were present in the vehicle during the incident have also been taken into police custody.