Philly school district safety officer shot seven times in incident.
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Philly school district safety officer shot seven times in incident.

A Philadelphia School District safety officer was critically injured in a shooting incident early Sunday morning, which authorities believe was related to road rage. The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. in the 300 block of North Christopher Columbus Boulevard, where the 68-year-old officer was on duty in a marked district vehicle.

According to police reports, two male suspects fired multiple shots from a Hyundai SUV, striking the officer several times. Following the attack, the officer lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree. Emergency responders transported him to Jefferson University Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical but stable condition.

Investigators recovered four 9mm spent casings from the scene of the shooting. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department indicated that the motive behind the shooting appears to stem from road rage. The investigation is being led by the department’s Shooting Investigation Group, which has yet to make any arrests in connection with this case.

At the time of the incident, the officer was returning from a patrol assignment at a local shelter and was en route back to a district garage. Bernadette Ambrose-Smith, president of the Philadelphia School Police Association, noted that school safety officers are responsible for patrolling both shelters and the district’s 216 schools, even when classes are not in session.

It is also relevant to mention that Philadelphia School District safety officers, while equipped with bulletproof vests, are not armed with firearms and can only carry batons and mace. The school police force underwent significant changes in 2020, including a rebranding initiative that aimed to emphasize a role focused on mentorship rather than enforcement. However, these changes have led to some tensions among officers who feel that their professional capabilities were diminished.

Ambrose-Smith reflected on the unfortunate nature of the incident, acknowledging that the violence had been anticipated by many within the ranks, though they had hoped it would not occur. The officer in question is a veteran of the district’s security force, having dedicated nearly two decades to protecting schools, and is also a retired member of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel condemned the shooting as unacceptable and assured the community that efforts to apprehend those responsible are a high priority. The ongoing investigation reflects a broader concern about the safety of those assigned to protect educational environments, especially as incidents of violence continue to rise across various contexts. As the community rallies in support of the injured officer, the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in both school and public settings remains a topic of growing relevance.

This story has been updated with additional information from Media News Source.

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