Police chase ends with shot fired at Philly officer; suspect charged with attempted murder

PHILADELPHIA - Chaotic scenes in East Germantown after a traffic stop took a dangerous turn that fortunately left police officers unscathed.

What we know:

Patrol officers pulled over a Buick on the 5800 block of Morton Street just after 10 p.m.

Police say that just prior to the stop, they noticed the driver, identified as 45-year-old Shahlem Groover, lean toward the passenger side of the vehicle and then sit upright again quickly. They noted he seemed visibly nervous as they spoke with him.

Timeline:

He was told about the registration which had expired and asked for the documentation, including insurance. He produced the information and it matched the vehicle, though the license plate didn’t match the documentation.

Officials said Groover found it hard to believe and asked to get out of the car to see the tag himself.

Once out of the car, authorities say he began a sidestep maneuver, indicating to the officers on scene he was about to run.

Police then did a safety check of the vehicle and noted the glove box locked. They asked him to unlock it and he refused.

The exchange continued until Groover, more agitated, rolled the windows up and took off.

Officers pursued until they arrived on the 300 block of Mechanic Street, where Groover stopped the car, got out and began to run on foot.

Officers quickly caught up to him, and noticed he had a gun.

"When the officers grabbed him and were actually taking him into custody, the suspect fired one shot from just inches away, fired one shot at the officer, but missed, and the officers were able to overpower him and take him into custody," Inspector Chief Scott Small said.

The officers were not injured, and did not discharge their weapons.

Groover's weapon was recovered, along with narcotics found in his vehicle.

A single shell casing was also found at the scene.

What they're saying:

Police say there was "no mistaking" the officers when the suspect fired at them, because they were in full uniform and driving a marked patrol vehicle.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel explained, "We’re always constantly at a disadvantage because anyone we encounter could have a gun, legally or illegally, and so and it’s our job to continue to train our men and women to be as vigilant as they can, but also understanding that they have to work within the constitutional framework."

The incident comes days after two Virginia Beach police officers were killed following a traffic stop of a driver, with expired plates, that drove off. And, as a Camden County police officer recovers in the hospital from what police say was an unprovoked stabbing while on duty Sunday night.

Police say officers allowing the driver to get out of a vehicle during a stop is discretionary.

"If you take him out of the car, handcuff him, search him, there would be others on one side saying they were wrong to do that and when the officers take a more professional approach and working to see whether they have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to make a more aggressive stop, then they do and so there is this balance," Commissioner Bethel stated.

Big picture view:

Commissioner Bethel points to the murder of Officer Jaime Roman who died after he was wounded in the summer of 2024 during a live stop, after spending about a half hour outside the car with the alleged shooter.

"It wasn’t until that final inventory was done and they saw a holster and they asked him, ‘Do you have a gun?’ that he started to run and turn and take his life, so you have to question all of that," Commissioner Bethel added. "The work that they’re doing is to help our community to get individuals who want to cause harm off our streets and so we’ll continue to do that despite the inherent dangers of this job."

What's next:

Groover has been charged with attempted murder, assault on law enforcement and other related charges.