Police on the scene of a shooting outside of Overbrook High School that left a police officer in critical condition. .(Credit: Fox 29)
A 26-year-old Philadelphia police officer was shot in the stomach Wednesday afternoon while responding to a fight near Overbrook High School, authorities said.
The officer, a recent graduate of the police academy who has been on the force for a little over one year, was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical but stable condition.
The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. near the intersection of North 59th Street and Columbia Avenue, just as classes were being dismissed.
According to authorities, the officer was attempting to break up a large altercation when a gunshot rang out. Investigators believe the bullet may have ricocheted off the ground before striking the officer in the abdomen, just below his ballistic vest.
Cellphone video recorded by a witness showed a chaotic scene with a crowd gathered and a loud popping sound, followed by people fleeing the area. The footage captures the moments leading up to the shooting but does not show the actual gunfire.
UPDATE: Cellphone footage shows a brawl and shooting of a Philadelphia police officer outside Overbrook High School: https://t.co/KCPvU4yEx7
A 30-year-old male was taken into custody at the scene.
Officials confirmed that the injured officer was not assigned to Overbrook High School and that no police officers discharged their weapons during the incident. The School District of Philadelphia stated that no students were involved in the shooting.
"President Roosevelt Poplar and FOP Lodge #5 Executive Board extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to our 19th District officer who was shot in the line of duty this afternoon," the Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement.
Mayor Cherelle Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel visited the hospital to check on the officer and later held a press conference outside the hospital, where Bethel became emotional about the incident.
"You're an adult. You're supposed to know better," Bethel said. "When you have an adult, who comes with a weapon that could easily kill my officers, it doesn't make any sense."
Parker indicated that she, Bethel and other city leaders had gathered earlier on Wednesday to honor those first responders who had died in the line of duty.
The School District announced that all after-school programs at Overbrook High School were canceled for the day. In a statement, the district expressed its well wishes for the injured officer and indicated that further communication regarding school operations and student support services would be shared later in the evening.
This marks the sixth police-involved shooting in Philadelphia this year and the second time an officer has been injured in the line of duty, according to police data.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the circumstances that led to the officer being shot. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.
