Man sought on warrant faces charges in officer’s slaying

Authorities allege that a Philadelphia police officer shot and killed as he served a homicide warrant last week was gunned down by the man being sought on the warrant.

Investigators had “sufficient evidence to establish” that 21-year-old Hassan Elliott “fired the bullets that killed” 46-year-old Cpl. James OÇonnor IV, the prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. Elliott will face charges including murder, criminal homicide and attempted homicide of law enforcement officers, prosecutors said.

O’Çonnor was shot in the shoulder above his bulletproof vest as more than a score of bullets were fired as officers entered a home in the Frankford section Friday, officials said. Two people in the home were wounded by return fire from another officer, officials said. O’Connor was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later.

A married father of two — including a son who also serves on the force — O’Connor had been a police officer for 23 years and was with the SWAT unit for 15 years. His daughter serves in the U.S. Air Force.

Elliott was charged last week in a March 2019 murder and a December non-fatal shooting and is being held without bail. Three other men arrested during last week’s raid are being held in cases unrelated to the officer’s slaying, prosecutors said.

Court documents don’t list an attorney for Elliott and a listed number for him couldn’t be found Tuesday.