Retired Firefighter Killed In Shooting That Injured 3 Philly Officers: Reports

PHILADELPHIA — The man killed in a shooting that also injured three police officers Saturday night in West Philadelphia was a retired firefighter, according to reports.

The suspect who was killed — Eric Franks, 57 — approached police as they investigated a different shooting around 10:30 p.m. on 54th Street, near Arlington Street, police said. A vehicle had been struck by gunfire.

"A confrontation developed between Franks and police personnel," Philadelphia Police said in a statement. "For a period of time, police personnel are trying to explain the situation to Franks in regard to establishing a crime scene, and at that point, Franks becomes increasingly agitated."

As the argument escalated, Franks shoved a police sergeant with both hands, police said. Two officers tried to arrest Franks when the situation escalated.

During the encounter, Franks took out a gun and refused officer commands to put away the weapon, police said. He then fired the gun directly toward officers, according to officers.

The sergeant and the officers who tried to arrest Franks were shot. All three, plus another officer who wasn't hurt, returned fire, police said.

Franks was shot in the chest and rear right leg, police said. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The three injured officers were in stable condition Saturday night, said Mayor Cherelle Parker.

One was shot in the face, another in the hip and another in the leg, Parker said. They are expected to recover.

"These officers are husbands and fathers, sons and brothers, and they almost didn’t make it home tonight," Parker said in a statement.

Police say their preliminary information comes from witness statements, surveillance footage and body-camera footage.

Franks was a Marine veteran and retired Philadelphia firefighter, according to reports.

Family friends told 6abc Action News that they have many questions, and the described behavior was uncharacteristic of Franks.

"We're just shocked that has happened to him," said Jesse Keller, of the Overbrook neighborhood. "The cameras do speak for itself, but I can't judge. I'm just shocked about the whole thing."

Franks operated an event space on the block of the shooting, and a birthday party had just let out, according to James Funt, his family's attorney.

He learned about the prior shooting in a phone call and arrived to make sure that the business was secure and the event was safe, Funt told NBC10 Philadelphia.

"I am hoping that a full and thorough investigation is done, that all of the video is being preserved before any unwarranted conclusions are reached, and that’s what I’m hoping will happen in this case," Funt told NBC10.

The incident remains under investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, the Philadelphia Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau, and the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit.