Philly officer fires gunshot during struggle with suspect who fled in stolen car: police

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating after they say an officer fired their gun during a struggle with a suspect in North Philadelphia Monday afternoon. 

At 2:48 p.m., officers were sent to the 1000 block of Dakota Street to investigate a stolen 2017 Jeep Cherokee. Upon arrival, they ran the plates of the vehicle and confirmed it was stolen that day.

Police say two officers then sat in their patrol car for nearly 40 minutes waiting for the car's owner to retrieve their Jeep. 

At around 3:20 p.m, a suspect then jumped into the driver's seat of the vehicle while officers were sitting there. 

Officers then got out of their patrol car to confront the suspect when they say a struggle ensued. 

During the struggle to extract the suspect from the vehicle, police say the officers believed the suspect had a firearm and a gunshot went off from one of the officer’s gun. 

Then, police say the suspect was somehow able to push the start button of the car and sped off in an unknown direction. 

Officials are unsure whether the suspect was struck by the gunshot. 

Frank Vanore, Philly Police Deputy Commissioner of Investigations, gave a rundown of the incident during a press conference Monday. 

The suspect was described as having a thin build, approximately 5’10 - 6’ and was wearing black pants, a blue shirt and a ski mask. 

"Two officers in uniforms standing by and someone tries to take the car right in front of them. That’s brazen, so a very dangerous situation he put the officers in, himself in," said Vanore. 

No officers were hurt during the incident. 

The officer whose gun went off has been placed on administrative duty. 

Investigators are searching to recover the vehicle that has a broken vent window in the back 

This is an ongoing investigation.