Officer Shot by Man in Hospital Gun Struggle

A Philadelphia police incident resulted in a man being fatally shot after he seized an officer’s weapon and injured him outside a psychiatric hospital. The city’s police commissioner mentioned that the officer’s bulletproof vest prevented any severe harm.

The event took place around 1 p.m. at Friends Hospital. Earlier on Thursday, two police officers had an encounter with the man, who was walking in traffic. He agreed to be taken to the hospital for mental health assessment willingly, according to Commissioner Kevin Bethel.

Although the man was transported in a police vehicle, he was not restrained because of his voluntary compliance. However, upon arrival at the facility, he started behaving aggressively, attacking one of the officers.

A Taser was used by one officer to subdue the man, but the struggle continued, leading all three men to fall to the ground. During this altercation, the man managed to take an officer’s firearm and fired shots, hitting the officer at the lower part of his vest.

In response, the second officer discharged his weapon multiple times at the assailant. The man was subsequently taken to a different hospital where he later died from his wounds. His identity has not been disclosed yet.

The second officer involved in the scuffle was neither shot nor seriously wounded, although he did sustain a minor, unspecified injury. Both officers were treated at another hospital and were later discharged.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker remarked on the proximity of the gunshot wound, emphasizing how fortunate the situation was not worse. “An inch of difference and the scenario could have been tragically different,” she commented.