Philadelphia police officer shot following attack by man armed with hammer and pickaxe; suspect dead
WEST PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia police officer was shot in the leg following an attack by a man armed with a hammer and pickaxe in the city's Overbrook neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.
Two 19th District officers responded to the 5700 block of Overbrook Avenue for a report of a person with a weapon inside the basement of a home when they were confronted by a man who was armed with a hammer and pickaxe, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.
One officer drew his Taser and both of the officers ordered the man to drop his weapons. He disregarded their order and walked toward both of the officers. One of the officers deployed his taser, striking the man. Police say the suspect briefly dropped to the ground, but then immediately got right back up and rushed the officers, which forced the group outside the home.
One of the officers was struck on the head with a weapon during an attack, knocking him to the ground. While the officer was on the ground, the suspect mounted him and struck him repeatedly with one or both of the weapons.
Outlaw said both officers drew their service weapons and fired multiple shots at the suspect.
The 35-year-old officer was shot in the leg and suffered an injury to the back of the head. The officer is conscious and in stable condition at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Outlaw said she did not know at this time if the officer was struck by friendly fire.
"It's unclear at this time whether the officer suffered the gunshot wound after discharging his firearm or whether the gunshot wound occurred as the result of his partner firing the weapon," Commissioner Outlaw said on Wednesday.
The suspect was taken to Lankenau Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney confirmed that one of the officers was shot during the incident and wished the officer a speedy recovery. Kenney shared that both of the officers were crisis intervention trained.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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