This appears to have started about 4 hours ago and is still ongoing. It apparently started while Philadelphia Police were trying to serve a warrant.
Officers were serving a narcotics warrant in a Philadelphia house this afternoon and had entered the premises when gunfire erupted, with a shooter firing multiple rounds, says Philadelphia police commissioner. https://t.co/0Z5DJDEsnH pic.twitter.com/uuBqMiveVK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 15, 2019
NBC25/FOX66 Breaking News – NBC News reports an active shooter situation in Philadelphia where police were shot at in a North Philly neighborhood. According to CBS3, at least four officers have been rushed to the hospital. (CNN, KYW video) pic.twitter.com/v8XC7pi2z7
— Bill Harris (@BillHarrisTV) August 14, 2019
Philadelphia police commissioner says he is “not sure” that there is just one shooter in active standoff in city. https://t.co/0Z5DJDEsnH pic.twitter.com/JK2XyUszkm
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 15, 2019
And that despite taking casualties, the Philadelphia Police Department is trying to end this without further violence.
A male shooter “continues to fire rounds out of the window,” as authorities attempt to speak with him, “trying to let him know he can end this peacefully now,” says Philadelphia police commissioner of active standoff https://t.co/0Z5DJDEsnH pic.twitter.com/Tc2CJvIqvd
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 15, 2019
Philadelphia police commissioner says the six officers struck by gunfire in shooting are in “stable condition.” https://t.co/0Z5DJDEsnH pic.twitter.com/Odga6WQs7J
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 15, 2019
From Philadelphia Police Department Sergeant Eric Gripp:
Shooting incident 3700 N 15th Street. Suspect/(s) firing at police. Large police presence. AVOID AREA
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
MEDIA HELICOPTERS: PULL BACK FROM THE AREA – YOU ARE HINDERING OPERATIONS
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Shooting situation ACTIVE and ONGOING on 3700 15th St. Avoid Area. Several PPD Officers have been injured. Updates will be provided as received
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Update – Multiple injuries to Officers. 5 PPD Officers Shot – at area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries. Shooting still active. Avoid area. MEDIA – STOP BROADCASTING TACTICAL POSITIONS OF OFFICERS
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Suspect is still firing. STAY OUT OF THE AREA
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
UPDATE: Suspect is still firing. SIX (6) PPD Officers shot – at area hospitals with non life threatening injuries. Additional officers also receiving treatment for non-gunshot injuries. Continue to avoid area. Situation is active and ongoing.
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
UPDATE 7PM – Situation is active and ongoing. 6 PPD Officers shot – continue to receive treatment at area hospitals. Shooter is still armed inside location. AVOID AREA
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Officers are attempting to communicate with the shooter; imploring him to surrender and avoid further injuries.
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Officers continue to attempt to communicate with suspect; suspect is still firing at officers. STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA.
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
Parents/Guardians of Children from Shake, Rattle & Roll Learning Center at 3625 N. Broad, and Precious Babies Daycare at 1433 Erie: You can retrieve your children at 3643 Germantown Ave on the Bus out front
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 14, 2019
.@PPDCommish "We are trying to get him to come out peacefully, but he is refusing to do so."
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 15, 2019
To reiterate: Scene remains active and ongoing. Officers continue to implore suspect to surrender – this can end without any further violence. Continue to avoid area
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 15, 2019
Media and citizens: Do not operate drones in the area of police operations.
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 15, 2019
Update at 9:47 PM EDT
Update: 2 PPD Officers who were in house with shooter have been safely evacuated by PPD SWAT. Suspect is still armed and inside house. Continue to avoid the area.
— Eric Gripp (@PPDEricGripp) August 15, 2019
Open thread!
Mary G
Had just clicked submit in the last post when this came up. Philadelphia resident says:
Rob
Yikes. I’m glad to read that the children in the nearby daycare establishments were finally able to leave. Thank you, Adam, for putting up this post.
In other (stock market) news, the Nikkei 225 in Japan is down ~1.95% and the Australian S&P/ASX 200 is down 1.894%. Strap in for a bumpy Thursday.
Mary G
Good point:
Adam L Silverman
@Mary G: I spent a year as a criminology professor at Temple several years before going to work for the Army. I had a number of Philadelphia police officers as students.
p.a.
We just keep getting politer and politer…
Frankensteinbeck
So you’re saying he’s white.
Baud
The militia appears not well regulated.
Adam L Silverman
@Frankensteinbeck: In this area of Philadelphia, I would not make that assumption. This is near Temple U/Temple Medical School, which is a heavily African American neighborhood and area of Philadelphia along North Broad Street.
mrmoshpotato
Why, oh why, the fuck do people have to be told this? For fuck’s sake, you morons, armies don’t tweet out their plans.
@ GenEisenhower: Yo Jerries. Here’s where we’ll be landing on the 6th! @ GenMonty Let them know where Gold and Sword are! It’ll be rad!
bbleh
Sigh. I’m quite sure this will advance sober and informed discussion about law enforcement priorities, gun safety, and the problems of poverty.
FWIW, that’s an area subject to the strains of both long-term North Philly poverty and current gentrification.
So far no fatalities, several people reported released from building, officers inside reportedly NOT in hostage situation.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Adam L Silverman: This is north of the main Temple campus, but I read that a north campus (Health Sciences) was on lockdown
Adam L Silverman
@Frankensteinbeck: Also, they’re trying to talk him out because two cops are trapped in the building with him
he’s got hostages.Chyron HR
“We have promised to summarily execute an unarmed black man in the shooter’s place, but he is unwilling to negotiate.”
Adam L Silverman
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: Yep, it appears to be in between but closer to Temple Med, which is, if I’m recalling correctly within about 2 miles north of the main campus. It’s up near where Joe Frazier’s gym is/was.
Rob
Action News on 6abc
@6abc
3m
#BREAKING: Philadelphia Police Commissioner Ross confirms two officers remain trapped inside the home with the shooter.
HinTN
@mrmoshpotato: Fucking media are brainless, to be generous.
Waiting on Dan B for the promised ride to the SEATTLE MEET-UP. Fuck yeah!!! BJ ROCKS
bbleh
@Adam L Silverman: Temple Hospital is a few blocks away. Lockdown reportedly lifted.
bbleh
@Rob: local reports say they are “barricaded,” ie presumably trapped but not in hostage situation.
Citizen_X
@mrmoshpotato: So, Geraldo Rivera is there?
Adam L Silverman
@bbleh: Haven’t taught/lived there since June 2005. And I took SEPTA in from Elkins Park rather than try to drive in everyday and hunt for a parking space.
Adam L Silverman
Cermet
If the trapped officers can get out, they’ll (the police) can call in an airstrike like they did once before and blow the block up …
gene108
@bbleh:
Misinformation already started. Not sure, if guy posting this meant to misinform, but the comments aren’t waiting to reserve judgement
mrmoshpotato
@Citizen_X: Haha. No. He’s probably somewhere searching for the real Capone’s vault – with OJ.
Mike in NC
This incident is very similar to one that happened in South Carolina less than a year ago. Police serving warrant taken under fire by heavily armed lunatic.
Immanentize
No one recommended bombing the house yet?
A la MOVE? Is the shooter white?
Adam L Silverman
@gene108: He did.
Another Scott
Here’s hoping it ends without any more violence.
OT – aljazeera:
Given how polarizing he is (rightly or wrongly), this seems to be a proposal that everyone who claims to not want a no-deal Brexit should be able to get behind.
Cheers,
Scott.
debbie
Fucking drones. Hope the media and whatever other nonsense has backed off.
bbleh
@Cermet: I doubt it. This isn’t the MOVE days.
Adam L Silverman
@Immanentize: Two cops pinned down within the house where the shooter is holed up. They want to talk him out so they can get the cops out safely.
Immanentize
@Adam L Silverman: People in Philly are still angry about the MOVE bomb that burned down an entire block plus.
Raven
@Adam L Silverman: Oh come on, can’t you make up some shit to make it fit what we want. “Bloodthirsty Pigs attack innocent drug dealer”!
gene108
@Immanentize:
See Adam’s comments above. Given the area, the odds he’s not white are high.
Adam L Silverman
@Immanentize: I’m aware. I used to live there and teach criminology/criminal justice there.
Adam L Silverman
@Raven: Fan fiction posts are strictly reserved for Balloon Juice After Dark.
Immanentize
@Adam L Silverman: Ever go to Tommy’s Twelve Satellites?
Raven
@Adam L Silverman: Rats, and I only have 40 minutes left!
Leto
I have a very good friend who just missed this event. He was there in the area but left just as this started. Local news stations have been covering this non-stop since 4:30pm local. Just crazy.
Adam L Silverman
@Immanentize: You mean Tommy’s Pizza?
Leto
@debbie: Media is blocks away and their helicopters backed way off early because they weren’t sure if the shooters were using news coverage/social media as a way to spot/target police. Media has been working with law enforcement by saying, “Keep out of the area, don’t fly drones here, etc..” Any drones being flown are being flown by local chowderheads.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Damn. I was just there last month in Philly, albeit in the Old City, on vacation. I hope that maniac doesn’t kill anybody
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Leto: Anyone flying a drone around there deserves to have it shot down.
Immanentize
@Adam L Silverman: No. There used to Be a club/bar/lounge just south of Temple that was called Tommy Twelve Sattelites. It was a bar run by this group of twelve friends who would go up to NY to see shows and hear music. It was a very odd club — black patrons mostly — but they had a very nice courtyard and served quarts. Probably closed by the turn of the century, but one wild space in the 80’s.
Raven
He must be using a shotgun or something pretty small caliber to hit 6 people all non-life threatening.
Adam L Silverman
@Immanentize: Okay, now I know what you’re talking about. No, I did not. I’m not even sure it was still there when I got there in 2004.
Immanentize
@Adam L Silverman: I really like those neighborhoods around the Temple of Doom. A good friend of mine teaches creative writing there… This is quite jarring.
Adam L Silverman
@Raven: Or a handgun.
Rob
@bbleh: That was a local report.
Adam L Silverman
@Immanentize: The neighborhood has character. A lot of those homes and rowhouses are beauties and just need some TLC.
Leto
@?BillinGlendaleCA: agreed.
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: we could’ve had a BJ: Philly! Meet up! ?
Elizabelle
Gawd, I wish we could just trade Trump for the barricaded police officers and be done with it.
Leto
@Raven: at one point they thought the shooter was running out of ammo, but nope; a few mins later they were back to exchanging gunfire.
Raven
@Adam L Silverman: You would think a 9 would do some damage.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Immanentize: I wasn’t living here when the MOVE thing happened and had to look up who was mayor then. It was Wilson Goode. He was recently honored (last September) with a street being named after him. That decision was understandably controversial.
Elizabelle
It’s refreshing to hear of someone shooting up a neighborhood without an assault weapon.
I hope this ends without any deaths or serious injuries.
AThornton
@Raven:
Or he is untrained and is spraying the air with near misses.
Raven
Witness says she heard more than 100 gunshots as at least one suspect fired at officers in shooting incident in #Philadelphia; several police officers wounded – https://breaking911.com/happening-now-
bbleh
@Raven: I think a handgun is more likely, given that there have been periodic reports of shots fired (not recently) and that injuries did not occur all at once.
Raven
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: Frank Rizzo was the police commish.
Raven
@AThornton: And hit 6 flying cops, ok.
Raven
Two women and two children were escorted by SWAT and Philadelphia Police from the scene. They told CBS3 that they were inside the home on the second floor at the time of the shootout and that police saved them.
“I thank God for these cops,” one woman said.
Raven
The gun battle between police and the suspect is still active. CBS3’s Greg Argos has learned the suspect has a long rifle gun and people outside their homes are being pushed back as the standoff continues.
bbleh
@AThornton: the baseline assumption would be untrained, panicked, and now in a near-psychotic state of anxiety. Local reports, including live statements, are that several attempts at contact have been made, and there has been response but no communication.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Raven: Ah OK. That’s why I had a vague feeling that Rizzo was connected to MOVE.
Rizzo has been honored for years. There’s a bigger than lifesize statue near City Hall and a huge mural in the Italian Market area. Those are really controversial and a lot of people want one or both taken down.
Adam L Silverman
@Raven: Not through what most cops wear these days, which is Level III. So bullet resistant/defeating plates in a kevlar plate carrier. Provided the shots went center mass, the vest would protect them from almost all handgun rounds and a significant number of rifle rounds.
Rob
FOX 29 Retweeted
Lauren Dawn Johnson
@LaurenDawnFox29
2m
?
BREAKING UPDATE
?
: 2 @PhillyPolice
who were inside the house with the shooter have been safely evacuated by SWAT! @FOX29philly
Adam L Silverman
Latest update:
Raven
@Adam L Silverman: cool
Immanentize
@Raven:
This. Rizzo
PaulWartenberg
@Mary G:
whoa wait. Cops are hostages?!?!
Raven
@Immanentize:
Rob
From https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/police-officers-shot-north-philadelphia-20190814.html
Raven
@PaulWartenberg: They were holed up somewhere in the house.
zhena gogolia
@PaulWartenberg:
they’re out now, they weren’t hostages, but trapped in the building
bbleh
@Immanentize: This is Philly’s Civil War statue.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@PaulWartenberg: Lots of information and misinformation is still flying, but it sounds like two cops were barricaded inside the house and police had no idea what their situation was, but they are now out according to Adam at #68.
So I think there’s nobody left inside but the shooter.
bbleh
@Adam L Silverman: whew
Adam L Silverman
@PaulWartenberg: They were trapped/pinned down in the house and unable to get out because the shooter was still shooting.
AThornton
@Raven:
And none of them seriously.
Immanentize
@Raven:
Rizzo and Daley. Birds of a feather. Good riddance.
Immanentize
@bbleh: Well put.
Geoboy
@mrmoshpotato: Excuse me, but if you think countries don’t tweet out their battle plans you’ve never heard of General Trump.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Geoboy: Excuse me, that’s General Field Marshal Trump.
Adam L Silverman
@bbleh: Yep.
Skepticat
How depressing is it that one of my first thoughts was slight relief that it wasn’t someone out and targeting people totally at random?
Richard Guhl
Since the Lehigh Valley is in the Philadelphia TV market, this incident was on for hours of coverage. A local online magazine mentioned that the situation was ongoing, and the comments were quite predictable with the devotees of the Gun god death cult out in full force.
mrmoshpotato
@Geoboy: Ha! But the orange assclown knows more than all the generals!
Gin & Tonic
Now that the cops are out there’s nothing stopping them from going all Dresden on the block, right?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Gin & Tonic: Frank Rizzo died in 1991.
normal liberal
A bit of clarification regarding Rizzo and MOVE; the first incidents with MOVE where back in the 70s when Rizzo was mayor. In those days, in the argot of my youth, he was a pig’s pig; he was fond of abandoning black tie mayoral events to pop up at major crime scenes, where he would borrow a nightstick to add flair to his formalwear.
The lethal event was in May 1996, where a core of the MOVE group had settled in the midst of a nice West Philly neighborhood, predominantly African-American, where they engaged in ongoing disturbance of the peace. The neighbors wanted action to oust them, but the city dithered. When a plan for the police to go in and evict MOVE was put together, the geniuses in charge discussed it publicly for a while, giving the group an opportunity to reinforce the house. When the operation began at 6 am on the chosen day, the neighbors having been evacuated temporarily, heavy police gunfire was returned from the house, and failed to create a means of entry.
The cops hadn’t realized that MOVE had stockpiled ammunition and heavily reinforced doors, windows, etc. A creative solution was needed, and it rose in the form of an aerial bombing of the house, using a helicopter and a plastic explosive which the police should not have had. The person(s) who built the bomb got carried away, and blast ignited first the house packed with spare ammunition, and then the adjoining 19 row houses on the block. The fire jumped the street and took all 20 houses on the opposite side, and then another 20 houses that backed up to the initial fire.
As I recall, there were 14 residents in the MOVE house, 8 adults (including the group’s founder, known as John Africa) and six young children. There were two survivors, one very young boy and one adult woman, both seriously burned. She went to prison, unlike any of the elected and appointed officials who served up this insanity, including the fire chief who refused to order his people to fight the fire.
I lived in Philadelphia then, and vividly recall waking that day to the radio broadcasting the opening rounds of gunfire. By late that night, 12 people were dead, 59 families were left homeless and bereft of everything they owned, and no one in authority paid the price.
Yes, I’m still angry.
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@Immanentize: Late to the party to say I’m still furious about MOVE and I’m nowhere near Philadelphia.
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: Count me in the group who want both taken down.
@normal liberal: As I mentioned *I’m* still angry and I’ve never lived there.
Steve in the ATL
@Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho: I’m still skeptical about the William Penn statue.
Ladyraxterinok
@normal liberal: My brother said in either Time or Newsweek report the author stated it was only the 2nd time a govt in US bombed an area where civilians were living. The first was the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. This may have been one of the 1st times the (white) riot was mentioned in a national publication. It wasn’t being mentioned in Tulsa or OK media or schools.
Steve in the ATL
@Ladyraxterinok: I thought the black parts of Tulsa were bombed back then (Greenwood-Archer-Pine, for you GAP Band aficionados) even though it was the white people rioting and killing blacks.
peter desmond
@Steve in the ATL:
alternative to wikipedia:
https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/tulsa-race-massacre
some participants have claimed that airplanes were also used in the attack.
Dev Null
Slightly off-topic, but as some / most / all (check one) jackals know, the NRA once supported gun control:
Seems that the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is … a lot of scary black dudes with guns … because only then will the GOP allow gun control legislation to pass.
Incidentally, my quick online search didn’t turn up news on the perp’s weapon. One report even says “Police aren’t saying”.