Current:Home > MarketsPolice change account of fatal shooting by Philadelphia officer, saying driver was shot inside car -WealthRoots Academy
Police change account of fatal shooting by Philadelphia officer, saying driver was shot inside car
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:38:27
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police have changed their account of a fatal shooting by a Philadelphia officer earlier this week, acknowledging that the person was shot inside the car rather than outside and no longer saying that he fled a traffic stop and later “lunged at” at police with a knife.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said video on the body-worn cameras of both officers involved “made it very clear that what we initially reported was not actually what happened.”
“I understand and want to acknowledge the hurt and confusion that family and community members can experience when details of investigations change, and especially when they change in a very public way that this has occurred,” Outlaw told reporters Wednesday.
Police haven’t identified the officers involved and haven’t released bodycam video.
Outlaw said two investigations are underway, one involving the district attorney’s office to determine whether officers followed the law and another internal affairs probe to determine whether they followed department policies and procedures
The shooting happened after officers spotted a car being driven erratically shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday in north Philadelphia and the driver then headed south for several blocks before turning the wrong way down a one-way street, police said.
Police originally said Monday that officers tried to pull the driver over but he fled. Cpl. Jasmine Reilly also said at that time that he came out of the car with a knife and “lunged” at officers, ignoring commands to drop the weapon.
But in a new account of the shooting in a police statement Tuesday night, police did not say officers tried to stop the vehicle, only that they followed the driver until he stopped. Then, they said, an officer approaching the passenger side of the vehicle warned the other officer, who was approaching the driver’s side, that the driver had a weapon. “As the male turned towards” the officer on the driver’s side, that officer fired multiple times into the vehicle, the statement said.
The driver was shot several times and was pronounced dead at a hospital minutes later, police said.
“During the press briefing at the scene on 8/14/23, the preliminary information indicated that the driver was outside of the vehicle at the time of the shooting,” police said in the statement, adding that now “the evidence indicates that the male was seated inside the vehicle.”
Christine Coulter, chief of detectives, said the report that the person was shot outside the vehicle was something called in to police radio, and officials are trying figure out who said it. The officer who shot the driver hasn’t yet been interviewed because department policy affords officers 72 hours after a shooting before that happens, she said.
Police in their revised account Tuesday said two knives “were observed inside the vehicle” but declined to say whether the driver was holding a weapon or was ordered to drop one. A detective said one appeared to be a “kitchen-style knife” and the other a “serrated folding knife.”
Outlaw acknowledged that the shifting accounts would make it “a challenge” to re-establish trust with the community, and “will raise additional questions.” However, she also said that officials had to protect the integrity of the investigation that also involves the district attorney.
“Sometimes I feel like we take 20 steps forward and it just takes one incident, we take 50 steps backward,” Outlaw said. “I’m hoping that they see that this is a genuine effort to do everything that we can to share what we know when we have it as we receive it.”
veryGood! (6)
prev:Bodycam footage shows high
next:'Most Whopper
Related
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Bachelor Nation's Chase McNary Marries Ellie White in Mountaintop Wedding
- Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID
- Jessica Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen's daughter, fails to make 2024 equestrian Olympics team after winning silver in 2020
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- RHOC's Alexis Bellino Shares Major Update on Upcoming John Janssen Engagement
- American citizen working for drone company injured in Israel
- Teen safely stops runaway boat speeding in circles on New Hampshire’s largest lake
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Back to Black Star Marisa Abela Engaged to Jamie Bogyo
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- John Cena announces pending retirement from WWE competition in 2025
- Simone Biles' Husband Jonathan Owens Honors Her With New Ring Finger Tattoo
- Bachelorette’s Jenn Tran Caught Off Guard By “Big Penis” Comment During Premiere
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Israeli military takes foreign journalists into Rafah to make a case for success in its war with Hamas
- Shaboozey makes history again with 'A Bar Song (Tipsy),' earns first Hot 100 No. 1 spot on Billboard
- Keanu Reeves, girlfriend Alexandra Grant hop on motorbike at Grand Prix in Germany
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
What time does 'The Bachelorette' start? Premiere date, cast, where to watch 'historic' Season 21
Angel Reese makes WNBA history with 13th-straight double-double for Chicago Sky
Zac Efron Reveals His Embarrassing First On-Set Kiss
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
Alice Munro's daughter alleges she was abused by stepfather and her mom stayed with him
'House of the Dragon' spoiler: Aemond actor on that killer moment
Florida community mourns K-9 officer Archer: 'You got one last bad guy off the street'