Philly Cop Who Shot Man Sitting In Vehicle Identified

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Police officer who shot and killed a 27-year-old man who was sitting in a vehicle has been identified.

Police said Mark Dial is the officer who opened fire on Eddie Irizarry.

Dial is a five-year veteran of the force and assigned to the 24th District.

He has been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the Internal Affairs and Officer Involved Shooting Investigations.

Police said Irizarry was shot and killed while sitting in a Toyota Corolla on Willard Street Monday afternoon.

Authorities initially claimed Irizarry was outside the vehicle and lunged at officers while armed with a knife when he was shot.

But police later said Irizarry was seated in the Toyota when he was fatally shot.

According to police, the incident began at about 12:28 p.m. Monday when officers tried to stop a Toyota Corolla on B Street near Westmoreland after seeing the vehicle drive erratically.

The vehicle turned on Westmoreland, then left onto Lee Street, and finally left onto Willard Street heading against traffic, police said.

Eventually, the vehicle pulled into a parking spot in the middle of the block.

The two officers who were in a marked patrol vehicle got out and approached the Corolla.

Dial went up to the driver's side, and the other to the passenger's side, with one officer trying to open the passenger door, police said.

That officer told Dial that the driver, later identified as Irizarry, had a weapon, police said.

Irizarry, police said, turned toward Dial, and that's when Dial shot multiple times into the vehicle, fatally striking Irizarry.

Irizarry was taken to Temple Hospital, where he was pronounced at 12:48 p.m.

Police found two knives in the Corolla.

According to the department, both officers had their body cameras on during the incident.