Philadelphia Police Who Shot Man Monday Did Not Have Tasers

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's top cop Tuesday said the two officers who shot and killed Walter Wallace Monday did not have tasers on them.

During a news conference Tuesday, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the responding officers were not equipped with tasers, also known as electronic control weapons.

Wallace, 27, was shot and killed by two police officers at about 4 p.m. Monday on the 6100 block of Locust Street.

Videos from the area after the shooting show angry community members asking Outlaw why Wallace was shot and not a taser.

She said the responding officers, whose identities have not been released, did not have tasers as not all police are given tasers.

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Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr., claimed his son had mental health issues and was taking medication.

When asked if it's common for officers to respond to domestic calls to have guns, Outlaw said yes, "because it’s one of the tools that we carry on our tool belt."

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She said the department is rolling out a program that would put more tasers in officers' hands.

When reporting a domestic incident, Outlaw said we have to rethink the questions 911 dispatchers asks callers.

She said the department has a have behavioral health specialist in its radio room, but that person was not working when the call came in.

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.