Man, 23, shot by off-duty cop in N.E. Philly
Police and neighborhood residents are telling dramatically different versions of an encounter that led to an off-duty cop shooting a man in Northeast Philadelphia earlier today.
Man, 23, shot by off-duty cop in N.E. Philly
A 23-year-old man was shot in the chest by an off-duty police officer in Northeast Philadelphia earlier today.
Residents and police officials told dramatically different versions of what unfolded on Worth Street near Margaret shortly before 4 p.m.
Police said the off-duty cop, whose name was not released, was helping a relative move into a house on the block when he noticed Josh Taylor walk in and out of a house on the street while carrying a handgun.
The officer exchanged words with Taylor and opened fire when Taylor allegedly pointed the weapon at him, said police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers. A handgun was found at the scene, he said. Taylor was admitted to Aria Hospital-Torresdale in critical condition.
Britney Britton, Taylor's girlfriend, said that was not at all how the incident unfolded. She claimed that Taylor ran into the couple's house and fell to the ground after he apparently had words with the off-duty cop.
Seconds later, she said, the cop allegedly opened the couple's front door, stepped inside and wounded Taylor while his son, 3, and daughter, 1, were standing behind him.
"He [the off-duty] opened the door like he was welcome in our house," Britton said. "He didn't have a badge. He didn't have a warrant. He took a breath, looked at me, and shot Josh. And then he turned and ran."
Neighbors said they saw Taylor stagger out of his house. "He pulled off his shirt and said, 'Mrs. Lawless! He shot me! I can't breath!'" said Carole Lawless, 52, who lives across the street from Taylor.
The off-duty cop, an 18-year veteran of the force who works in West Philly's 18th District, was being interviewed tonight by Internal Affairs investigators and will be placed on desk duty, Evers said.
Anytime you're carrying a gun nothing good comes out of it...— The Philly Shadow- Guns don't hurt people...bullets do! — glemery
- Wrong. More Guns,Less Crime.
I cant believe the cop shot the guy in front of his children and wife. Why isnt this being reported more? Then the cop writing the editorial has the audacity to whine about the poor police being accused of wrongdoing boo hoo hoo. Some reports are saying Taylor had a PERMIT.
Why didn't the unnamed cop call the police?
Why do the police release the names of everybody under the sun except one of their own?
Doesn't the fact the he shot the guy in his house put a huge hole in the account given by the cop saying he was threatened on the street?— Ted Po - So much for the annual training the PPD gets. In 2009 the training they got informed the all that open carrying of a firearm in and of itself is PERFECTLY LEGAL. I guess this officer just choose not to follow the law of the state. If this truely unfolds like the victims girlfriend said, then this cop should rot in jail for the rest of his life. But I am sure the PPD will protect him and 18 months from now the IA report will say he did nothing wrong.— Taxpaying Voter
- Here we go again. "Dramatically different" stories of what happened. There will be lots of depositions, lots of press, and tons of cost to Philly taxpayers.— aviator
- The Philly Shadow wise comment; guns=trouble.— brjsphila
- well well well! thank God this did not take place in west or north philthy because the shooting would be labeled as justified.. Our men today in Blue are not to far removed from the thugs with hoodies— noncents
- Sounds like Mrs. Lawless lives in an apropos area— WentWet
- A good example of how stories go two sides and the truth.— realtime
- anyone think either story is true?— DogfightingAficionado
- I would be ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED to find out that the victim had a criminal record...— smccaff
- Also I love how the PPD releases the civilian's name but refuses to name the officer involved. Could it be more of the PPD covering for a brother in blue?— Taxpaying Voter
- cops things they can do whatever they want because they belong to a legal gang— Rantanplan
- That area of the city is in no way Northeast Philly.— mrburns1120
- Apparently the Shadow and brjs would be more comfortable on the other side of the Delaware. In the crime-free paradise of the People's Republic of NJ it's practically illegal just to think about a gun.— Don_M
