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| Philadelphia Police Officer Is Killed in a Shooting While Trying to Arrest a Suspect | Philadelphia Police Officer Is Killed in a Shooting While Trying to Arrest a Suspect |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed early Friday morning, hit by gunfire through a closed door as his police unit tried to arrest a murder suspect in the Frankford section of the city, the police said. | A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed early Friday morning, hit by gunfire through a closed door as his police unit tried to arrest a murder suspect in the Frankford section of the city, the police said. |
| Cpl. James O’Connor, a member of the department’s SWAT team, was shot near his left shoulder as he and members of the SWAT and homicide team tried to enter a second-floor room of a building just before 6 a.m., Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said. | Cpl. James O’Connor, a member of the department’s SWAT team, was shot near his left shoulder as he and members of the SWAT and homicide team tried to enter a second-floor room of a building just before 6 a.m., Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said. |
| Gunfire burst through a closed door on the officers, Commissioner Outlaw told reporters Friday outside Temple University Hospital, where Corporal O’Connor was pronounced dead at 6:09 a.m. | Gunfire burst through a closed door on the officers, Commissioner Outlaw told reporters Friday outside Temple University Hospital, where Corporal O’Connor was pronounced dead at 6:09 a.m. |
| “These officers didn’t get a chance,” she said. “The gunfire happened immediately as soon as they walked through the door.” | “These officers didn’t get a chance,” she said. “The gunfire happened immediately as soon as they walked through the door.” |
| Another SWAT officer returned fire through the door, striking two men “in the lower extremities,” Commissioner Outlaw said. Those men were taken to Einstein and Jefferson Hospitals in stable condition. The person sought on the arrest warrant was not shot and was in police custody, Commissioner Outlaw said. She did not name the people who were shot. | Another SWAT officer returned fire through the door, striking two men “in the lower extremities,” Commissioner Outlaw said. Those men were taken to Einstein and Jefferson Hospitals in stable condition. The person sought on the arrest warrant was not shot and was in police custody, Commissioner Outlaw said. She did not name the people who were shot. |
| Philadelphia’s district attorney, Larry Krasner, identified the suspect accused of murder as Hassan Elliott, 21. He was wanted in connection to a robbery and murder that occurred in March 2019, Mr. Krasner said in a statement. | Philadelphia’s district attorney, Larry Krasner, identified the suspect accused of murder as Hassan Elliott, 21. He was wanted in connection to a robbery and murder that occurred in March 2019, Mr. Krasner said in a statement. |
| As word of the shooting spread, dozens of police officers rushed to Temple University Hospital. Many of the officers were in tears as they stood outside in the rain, hugging and comforting one another. | As word of the shooting spread, dozens of police officers rushed to Temple University Hospital. Many of the officers were in tears as they stood outside in the rain, hugging and comforting one another. |
| The mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, also arrived and spoke to reporters, his voice breaking as he called on the public to pray for Corporal O’Connor’s family. | The mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, also arrived and spoke to reporters, his voice breaking as he called on the public to pray for Corporal O’Connor’s family. |
| “It’s a tough job and they do the best for us every day,” he said. “This is a bad day.” | “It’s a tough job and they do the best for us every day,” he said. “This is a bad day.” |
| He added in a statement that Corporal O’Connor had “demonstrated the ultimate form of heroism: putting out his uniform, leaving his family and carrying out his sworn duty to protect the residents of this city.” | He added in a statement that Corporal O’Connor had “demonstrated the ultimate form of heroism: putting out his uniform, leaving his family and carrying out his sworn duty to protect the residents of this city.” |
| John J. McNesby, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said in a statement that Corporal O’Connor came from a line of police officers. | John J. McNesby, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said in a statement that Corporal O’Connor came from a line of police officers. |
| “This is a sad and tragic day,” he said. Corporal O’Connor “served this department and city with dedication, honor and dignity for 23 years. His primary focus was to keep our city safe.” | “This is a sad and tragic day,” he said. Corporal O’Connor “served this department and city with dedication, honor and dignity for 23 years. His primary focus was to keep our city safe.” |
| In a statement, Mr. Krasner, the district attorney, said the shooting “underscores the interconnectedness of our partners in law enforcement within the criminal justice system.” | In a statement, Mr. Krasner, the district attorney, said the shooting “underscores the interconnectedness of our partners in law enforcement within the criminal justice system.” |
| “Our deep reliance and trust in one another does not often make headlines, but it is critical to the safety of all communities,” he said. “Our prosecutors, particularly those involved in the investigation preceding today’s incident, join the members of the Philadelphia Police Department and the residents of Philadelphia in mourning Corporal O’Connor, and in extending our deep condolences to his loved ones.” | “Our deep reliance and trust in one another does not often make headlines, but it is critical to the safety of all communities,” he said. “Our prosecutors, particularly those involved in the investigation preceding today’s incident, join the members of the Philadelphia Police Department and the residents of Philadelphia in mourning Corporal O’Connor, and in extending our deep condolences to his loved ones.” |
| Mr. Krasner, a former civil rights lawyer who had frequently clashed with the police before his election in 2017, also visited the hospital early Friday. A large crowd of officers was standing around the entrance as he arrived, local news footage showed. | Mr. Krasner, a former civil rights lawyer who had frequently clashed with the police before his election in 2017, also visited the hospital early Friday. A large crowd of officers was standing around the entrance as he arrived, local news footage showed. |
| In brief remarks to reporters as he was leaving, Mr. Krasner said he had come to the hospital to show his respect for the officer and his family, and “to show how much we care about our law enforcement officers.” | In brief remarks to reporters as he was leaving, Mr. Krasner said he had come to the hospital to show his respect for the officer and his family, and “to show how much we care about our law enforcement officers.” |
| Mr. Krasner did not respond to a reporter’s question about his interaction with the officers outside the hospital. | Mr. Krasner did not respond to a reporter’s question about his interaction with the officers outside the hospital. |
| “We’ve had a pretty serious incident,” he said of the shooting. “There is of course an ongoing investigation.” | “We’ve had a pretty serious incident,” he said of the shooting. “There is of course an ongoing investigation.” |
| Mr. McNesby, the police union president, later said that Mr. Krasner “was not admitted” to the hospital. | Mr. McNesby, the police union president, later said that Mr. Krasner “was not admitted” to the hospital. |
| Tensions between Mr. Krasner, a former defense attorney who committed to charging fewer defendants, and the police and other law enforcement officials have surfaced before. | Tensions between Mr. Krasner, a former defense attorney who committed to charging fewer defendants, and the police and other law enforcement officials have surfaced before. |
| After six Philadelphia officers were shot following a standoff with a gunman in August 2019, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain sharply criticized Mr. Krasner. | |
| “There is a new culture of disrespect for law enforcement in this city that is promoted and championed by District Attorney Larry Krasner — and I am fed up with it,” Mr. McSwain said in a statement at the time. | “There is a new culture of disrespect for law enforcement in this city that is promoted and championed by District Attorney Larry Krasner — and I am fed up with it,” Mr. McSwain said in a statement at the time. |
| Corporal O’Connor, a 23-year veteran of the department, was the father of two. His son is an officer in the Police Department and his daughter is in the Air Force, Commissioner Outlaw said. | Corporal O’Connor, a 23-year veteran of the department, was the father of two. His son is an officer in the Police Department and his daughter is in the Air Force, Commissioner Outlaw said. |
| “These people are led to serve,” she said. “We’re never prepared for the loss of a loved one. We certainly know when we put this uniform on that it could be the last time that we see our loved ones. It takes a special person to do this job and that’s who this corporal was.” | “These people are led to serve,” she said. “We’re never prepared for the loss of a loved one. We certainly know when we put this uniform on that it could be the last time that we see our loved ones. It takes a special person to do this job and that’s who this corporal was.” |
| Corporal O’Connor’s father served in the Philadelphia Police Department for 40 years, according to the union. | Corporal O’Connor’s father served in the Philadelphia Police Department for 40 years, according to the union. |
| “He was just a great person, a great family man,” Mr. McNesby said. “He’s the epitome of a good guy who was always first in line to attend a fallen officer’s memorial. Now we have to go and have one for him.” | “He was just a great person, a great family man,” Mr. McNesby said. “He’s the epitome of a good guy who was always first in line to attend a fallen officer’s memorial. Now we have to go and have one for him.” |
| The last time an officer was killed in the city was March 2015, when Sergeant Robert Wilson III was shot at close range during an attempted robbery at a North Philadelphia GameStop. Sergeant Wilson had gone to the store to buy a gift for his son. | The last time an officer was killed in the city was March 2015, when Sergeant Robert Wilson III was shot at close range during an attempted robbery at a North Philadelphia GameStop. Sergeant Wilson had gone to the store to buy a gift for his son. |
| The shooting on Friday took place a week after the police honored Sergeant Wilson in a ceremony for the fifth anniversary of his death. | The shooting on Friday took place a week after the police honored Sergeant Wilson in a ceremony for the fifth anniversary of his death. |