Philadelphia, PA. – A Philadelphia Police Officer was shot while on a traffic stop on Wednesday night. The suspect was killed during the gunfight.

Authorities say the traffic stop happened in the 1500 block of West Somerville Avenue at 6:45PM.

Sgt. Eric Gripp with the Philadelphia Police Department said two officers approached the vehicle during the traffic stop. The officers returned to their vehicle to look up information on the three men and one woman inside the car.  Officers discovered three of four occupants had outstanding warrants and called for backup.  Additional officers arrived and as they began to approach the vehicle, a 24-year-old man started firing at officers with a handgun.

“Officers ordered the right rear passenger out of the vehicle at which point an officer shouted, ‘He’s got a gun.’ Then there was immediately a confrontation between the male with the gun and then the police,” said Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.

One officer was shot in the foot during the exchange of gunfire.  Five officers fired back and killed the suspect. He was shot multiple times.  A weapon was recovered at the scene.

Outlaw said the officer who was shot in the foot is hospitalized and in stable condition.

This piece was written by Ray Dietrich on April 8, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.

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