Police shoot man in West Philly traffic stop

Police shot a man during a traffic stop in West Philadelphia last night after he allegedly reached for a revolver tucked in the waistband of his pants.

Steven Leary, 28, of the 200 block of West Zeralda Street in the city's Germantown section, remained in critical but stable condition today at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with a gunshot wound to his right side, police said.

Lt. Frank Vanore said police pulled over a 2009 Ford Taurus with two occupants shortly after 10 p.m. at 61st and Chestnut Streets for making an illegal turn. As police ran a check on the car and its driver, Leary - the passenger - asked if he could get out and stretch. When police allowed him to do so, he reached for a six-shot revolver in his pants, Vanore said.

An officer fired once, striking Leary, Vanore said. The officer's identity was not released.

At the time of the shooting, Leary was wanted for escape, believed to be for failing to appear at a court hearing, Vanore said.

In addition to the revolver, Leary was found with a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana and unidentified pills, Vanore said. He was charged with aggravated assault, weapons and narcotics offenses.