Six Philadelphia police officers were shot Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2019, by at least one active shooter at a home near Temple University, according to the New York Times and other media outlets.
Sgt. Eric Gripp, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Police Department’s Public Affairs Unit, posted updates on the department’s Twitter page over several hours as the ordeal unfolded. Gripp described the shooting as “active and ongoing” and urged everyone, including media helicopters, to avoid the area.
Gripp said police attempted to communicate with the unnamed suspect, who continued firing at them. “Officers are attempting to communicate with the shooter, imploring him to surrender and avoid further injuries,” he wrote.
According to media accounts, the shooting began around 4:30 p.m. near on 3700 block of 15th Street in the Nicetown-Tioga section in North Philadelphia. NBC News reported that a police spokesperson said the incident began when an officer attempted to serve a warrant at the home where the gunman was holed up.
According to the New York Times, a large number of officers converged on the area, and Temple University’s Health Sciences Center Campus was locked down.
The shooter continued firing at officers at different times during the standoff, as police pleaded with residents to stay away from the area.
In addition to those officers who were shot, several other cops were injured and transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
