Woman critically injured after being shot by police in Hunting Park.
A woman who brandished a firearm at police was shot during an encounter with officers in Hunting Park early Sunday morning, and she remains in critical condition, according to officials.
Shortly after 4 a.m., patrol officers responded to a report of an individual armed with a gun on the 900 block of West Erie Avenue. Upon arrival, officers encountered a 35-year-old woman who was holding a handgun to the side of her head.
The police reported that the woman ignored multiple commands to drop her weapon. Despite the deployment of a Taser in an attempt to subdue her, she continued her threatening behavior. As the situation escalated, she fled across Erie Avenue while pointing the gun toward two officers from the 25th District, prompting them to discharge their firearms. Authorities later indicated that the officers struck her three times.
After sustaining the gunshot wounds, the woman was transported to Temple University Hospital for urgent medical treatment. During the investigation at the scene, police discovered a .22 caliber handgun, which had its serial number obliterated. The weapon contained one round in the chamber and an additional 19 rounds in its magazine, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The woman, whose identity has not yet been released by law enforcement, faces charges of aggravated assault against police officers. This incident has raised significant attention due to the nature of the confrontation, highlighting the precarious interactions that can occur between law enforcement and individuals in distress.
As part of standard procedure, body-worn camera footage from the incident is being reviewed. The two officers involved, who have been serving on the force for less than three years, have been placed on desk duty while an investigation is conducted into the shooting. This inquiry falls under the purview of the department’s Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit, alongside scrutiny from the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
The ongoing investigation will seek to uncover further details surrounding the events that led to this tense confrontation, with significant implications for police practices and community safety in the region. Media News Source will continue to follow developments as they arise.
