More charges likely in shooting that injured 6 police officers

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say more charges are likely to be filed in the case of a Philadelphia man accused of barricading himself inside a Tioga row house and shooting six police officers during an hourslong standoff last week.

But Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also warned Monday that the investigation into the "factually complicated case" could take months to complete due to the extensive amount of evidence that must be reviewed.

The alleged shooter, 36-year-old Maurice Hill, is charged with attempted murder, assault and numerous other counts. He's accused of shooting at officers who were serving a drug warrant Wednesday, then keeping police at bay while he fired repeatedly from inside a building.

"The actions of Maurice Hill not only resulted in the worst mass shooting of Philadelphia police officers in our city’s history, they terrorized an entire community for nearly eight hours,” Krasner said. “This case is a damning illustration of the twin epidemics of drug trafficking and gun violence, which most often prey on vulnerable communities, making our neighbors afraid to socialize on street corners or to let their children outside to play."

Hill had at least a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun when he opened fire Wednesday afternoon on officers serving a drug warrant, authorities said. 

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The shooting began around 4:30 p.m. on the 4700 block of North 15th Street. Officers went to serve a narcotics warrant in an operation "that went awry almost immediately," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

Many officers "had to escape through windows and doors to get (away) from a barrage of bullets," Ross said.

Shots were still being fired three hours later, police said, and officers returned fire.

Around 9:30 p.m., police said, a SWAT team freed the two officers who had been trapped inside, along with three people that officers took into custody before the shooting as part of the drug warrant. But Hill remained barricaded.

Hill's lawyer, Shaka Johnson, said Hill called him during the standoff asking for help surrendering. Johnson then called Krasner, and they patched in both Hill and the police commissioner, according to Krasner. 

Hill told Johnson he wanted to make it out alive to see his newborn daughter and teenage son again. 

Hill came out of the home in the wee hours of Thursday after police used tear gas. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and then placed in custody.

Hill's criminal record includes multiple arrests in Philadelphia and adjacent Delaware County between 2001 and 2012, according to online records. His convictions include assault, perjury, fleeing and eluding, escape and weapons offenses. 

He served two stints in state prisons -- three, counting a return for a probation violation. He was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison term over a pair of convictions for being a felon in possession of firearms.

Commissioner Ross has expressed amazement that the standoff ended with no one dead and no life-threatening injuries, despite the gunman firing over 100 rounds. 

The six officers who were struck by gunfire were released after being treated at hospitals Wednesday night.

Four other men were also charged with drug offenses in connection with the standoff.

Hill is currently being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.