North Philadelphia: Five PPD officers shoot armed driver

Tensions continue to run high since the August 18 murder of Officer Moses Walker, Jr.

According to Philly.com, a group of five, plainclothes police officers shot an armed man in North Philadelphia early Saturday morning.

Officers were blocking the 2400 block of N. 4th Street with their unmarked cars when a 2002 Mercury came “flying” down the street. The driver slammed on his brakes and stopped just a few feet from the officers who were in the midst of a narcotics investigation.

An Internal Affairs report cited in the article states that as officers approached the car one of them spotted a weapon and called out that the driver had a gun. The officers discharged at least 20 rounds into the vehicle. The driver threw the car in reverse and struck several parked cars before coming to a stop at 4th and Cumberland streets.

The driver, a Hispanic male in his early 30s was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Officials say that a 9mm pistol was recovered in the car.