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PHILADELPHIA, PA (WTXF) - Philadelphia Police released more information regarding a police-involved shooting that took place in North Philadelphia on Thursday evening which left one suspect dead.
Around 6:40 p.m., an officer was working along the 4100 block of Whitaker Avenue while transporting witnesses to the Special Victims Unit.
Police say the officer observed a red dirt bike being operated by 30-year-old David Jones driving in a reckless manner. According to investigators, the officer saw the dirt bike stall on the sidewalk adjacent to a nightclub. At that time, the officer stopped his patrol vehicle near David Jones, exited his vehicle and attempted to question him.
Authorities say Jones turned the right side of his body away from the officer and began holding the front of his waistband. Police say the officer used his left hand to pat-down the male and felt a firearm in his waistband. According to police, the officer drew his firearm and repeatedly told the male not to touch the weapon. Police say there was a struggle between the two and Jones pulled a firearm from his waistband. Officer Ryan Pownall, a 12-year-veteran assigned to the 15th district squeezed the trigger of his service weapon, and it did not fire. According to police, the officer cleared a stoppage, and discharged at the male as he ran south on Whitaker Avenue. David Jones sustained gunshot wounds to the back and buttocks. He was transported to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m.
There were no other injuries to police or civilians.
Ross tells FOX 29 nearby surveillance video showed the entire encounter.
"We're gonna be very honest about the fact that there was a video, and in that video, the male is actually fleeing from the officer," Ross said, "From a constitutional standpoint, there is nothing that says you can't shoot at a fleeing suspect. I'm talking about departmental issues, just so we're clear."
A fully loaded 9-millimeter handgun was found at the scene according to Commissioner Ross.
Per departmental policy, the officer will be placed on administrative duty pending an investigation into the incident.
Ross says the witness in the back of the patrol car at the time of the incident has been interviewed, and his side of the story closely corroborated what the officer had told investigators.