GERMANTOWN (WTXF) - A Philadelphia police officer will not face charges in connection with a deadly shootout that left the suspect dead and a fellow officer injured back in August.
The District Attorney's office announced Officer Angel Vasquez, a member of the SWAT Unit, was justified in the August 6 shooting that resulted in the death of 59-year-old Ricardo Giddings.
Officers were executing a search warrant at a home on the 4800 block of Knox Street in Germantown in connection with a shooting incident. Members of the SWAT team entered the home after knocking and announcing their presence with no response from inside the home.
Upon entry, investigators say Giddings fired four shots at the officers with a pistol, striking officer Jaison Potts in the face, breaking his jaw and critically injuring him.
Officer Vasquez then returned fire, striking Giddings in the chest and leg. Giddings was taken to the hospital and later died of his injuries. The DA's office now says Officer Vasquez was legally justified in using deadly force, and no criminal charges are warranted.
In the hours following the shooting, Commissioner Ross explained to reporters that Giddings thought someone was breaking into his home and instructed his wife to leave. Police say the wife was critically injured after sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen and falling onto the couple's back patio while escaping through a second-floor window.
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Officials also revealed at the time of the shooting that the person named in the warrant was Giddings grandson.
Officer Potts is a 20-year veteran of the force. Mayor Jim Kenney says the married father of three was due to start a vacation after his shift on the day of the shooting.