Violence erupted in West Philadelphia Monday night following the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace. Footage shows Wallace holding what appears to be a knife, as police tell him multiple times to drop the weapon. When he fails to comply, officers open fire, ultimately killing him.
West Philly Riots Following Walter Wallace Fatal Shooting
Then the local community reportedly erupted in protest and eventually violence. A pickup truck struck one officer, a 56-year-old police sergeant, reported 6abc.com. She sustained a broken leg and other injuries.
Local hospitals reportedly treated another 29 officers throughout the night, according to 6abc.com. Footage of widespread looting showed vandals ransack a local Footlocker store. Rioters broke windows, set dumpsters ablaze and vandalized vehicles in the area as well, reported 6abc.com.
Though footage appears to show Wallace clearly armed with a knife and disobeying officer commands, local residents remained furious. Some even repeated the dangerous, tactically unsound advice bloviated by Joe Biden.
“You could have pulled out a taser,” Jada Hilton told 6abc.com. “You could have shot him in the leg.”
Meanwhile, the investigation of the shooting remains ongoing. However, video footage appears to support the officer response of lethal force.
“I have directed the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit to begin its investigation. I recognize that the video of the incident raises many questions,” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told 6abc.com. “Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation. While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted. I will be leaning on what the investigation gleans to answer the many unanswered questions that exist. I also plan to join the Mayor in meeting with members of the community and members of Mr. Wallace’s family to hear their concerns as soon as it can be scheduled.”
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