Black Man Killed By Philly Police Prompts Protests, Violence

PHILADELPHIA — After a Black man was shot and killed by Philadelphia police Monday afternoon, protesters took to the streets, sparking violence that included vandalism and injuries to police officers.

Philadelphia police shot and killed Walter Wallace Jr., 27, about 4 p.m. Monday on the 6100 block of Locust Street in West Philadelphia.

Wallace was armed with a knife when he was shot by two officers. Witnesses said he was about 10 feet from police when the fired numerous rounds at him.

Video of the shooting shows Wallace quickly pacing around the area with a knife in hand and his mother following him.

Police can be seen in the video with weapons drawn, telling Wallace to back up and put the knife down.

Eventually Wallace walks toward two officers, who were backpedaling away from him.

The video shows officers started firing with Wallace still walking slowly toward them.

The victim's father, Walter Wallace Sr., said his son was shot 10 times, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The senior Wallace also told the Inquirer that his son struggled with mental health issues and was on medication.

Police said the officers fired seven rounds each.

The identities of the officers involved have not been made public.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said police are completing threat assessment to determine and if and when the officers' names can be released, saying the department plans to release it as long as it does not put the officers’ safety at risk.

Later in the evening, groups of protesters took to the streets after witness video of the shooting circulated online.

A few hundred protesters gathered in West Philadelphia and marched toward the 18th Police District facility at 55th and Pine streets, where police set up a barricade.

Thirty police officers were hurt during the overnight protests, including one who was hit by a truck and suffered a broken leg, according to Action News. The truck was found abandoned nearby after it apparently struck another vehicle. The driver has not been found.

Others were hurt after being hit by bricks and other thrown objects.

At least one police vehicle was set on fire during the unrest, as well as several other police vehicles being damaged.

Some businesses were damaged and looted as well, according to Fox 29.

NBC10 reports more than 30 people were arrested during the unrest.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said an investigation is underway.

"I recognize that the video of the incident raises many questions," she said in a statement. "Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation."

Outlaw met with outraged residents after the shooting and before the protests, with community members lambasting police for the shooting they say was unjustified and asked why a less-than-lethal option such as stun guns were not used.

Outlaw said the two officers involved did not have tasers when they responded to the scene.

"While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted," she said. "I will be leaning on what the investigation gleans to answer the many unanswered questions that exist."

District Attorney Larry Krasner urged anyone in community who witnessed the incident to contact the District Attorney's Office Special Investigations Unit hotline at 215-686-9608.

"The DAO Special Investigations Unit responded to today’s fatal shooting of a civilian by police shortly after it occurred, and has been on scene with other DAO personnel since that time investigating, as we do jointly with the PPD Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit, in shootings and fatalities by other means involving police," Krasner said. "We intend to go where the facts and law lead us and to do so carefully, without rushing to judgment and without bias of any kind."

Mayor Jim Kenney said he saw footage of Wallace being shot and said it "presents difficult questions that must be answered," however Kenney later Tuesday did not say what those questions were.

"I spoke tonight with Mr. Wallace’s family, and will continue to reach out to hear their concerns firsthand, and to answer their questions to the extent that I am able," Kenney said in a statement. "The Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit of PPD will conduct a full investigation. I look forward to a speedy and transparent resolution for the sake of Mr. Wallace, his family, the officers, and for Philadelphia."

John McNeesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, stood by the officers.

"Our police officers are being vilified this evening for doing their job and keeping the community safe, after being confronted by a man with a knife," he said in a statement. "We support and defend these officers, as they too are traumatized by being involved in a fatal shooting."