Authorities capture man accused of taking gun from scene of fatal Philadelphia police shooting

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities have captured a man accused of taking a gun last week from the scene of a shooting inside a Philadelphia store that left a man dead and a police officer wounded.

Jose Quinones-Mendez, 42, was arrested Wednesday night in Philadelphia, police said. He’s charged with tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and a weapon offense. Court records were unavailable for these charges Thursday and authorities did not know if Quinones-Mendez has retained an attorney.

The shooting occurred Jan. 26, when two officers on routine patrol in the city’s Fairhill section entered the store and approached a group of men, authorities have said. Security video released by police shows two officers searching men for weapons before they wrestled 28-year-old Alexander Spencer to the ground and two shots rang out in a five-second span.

Authorities have said a shot fired by Spencer hit an officer in the leg, prompting the other officer to return fire, wounding Spencer. He was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. The wounded officer was treated at a hospital and the injury was not considered life-threatening.

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