Philly Police Officer Shot During Fight At High School

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A fist fight at Overbrook High School spiraled when armed adults showed up and led to a Philadelphia police officer being shot in the stomach, officials said.

The officer, identified as a 26-year-old rookie on the force by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, is now in critical condition.

The officer was among several police who responded to the fight at the high school at around 2:42 p.m. Wednesday.

Bethel said a 30-year-old man, not a student, fired the shot, which ricocheted and hit the officer. The man has been arrested.

The officer underwent surgery at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.

"I am asking Philadelphia to pray for our officer right now — whatever your faith — and for all of his family as well," Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement.

Bethel strongly condemned the incident in a news conference.

“Fights at school have been happening since I was a kid,” he said. “But what I would never do is call an adult to my fight. And then when you are an adult, you’re a damn adult. You’re supposed to know better. You’re supposed to be the one who can come in there to deescalate. Not escalate."

Police did not fire any shots, and the fight was broken up after the officer was shot. Specific charges are forthcoming.