SWAT team officer who killed suspect assigned to temporary desk
Francis Whalen, the SWAT officer who was injured Wednesday in a shootout that left a murder suspect dead, has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of a preliminary investigation, police said.
Francis Whalen, the SWAT officer who was injured Wednesday in a shootout that left a murder suspect dead, has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of a preliminary investigation, police said.
Whalen, a 17-year veteran, was part of a tactical team that stormed a Northeast Philadelphia apartment in the 800 block of Riverside Drive on Wednesday morning in search of Devon Guisherd, 27. Guisherd was wanted on two counts of homicide in the September 2014 shooting death of Megan Doto, 25, and her unborn child.
After officers entered the apartment in pursuit of the suspect Wednesday, Guisherd shot Whalen in the stomach with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, police said. The officer returned fire, hitting Guisherd in the chest and killing him.
Whalen wore a bulletproof vest, which absorbed the shot. He was treated at Aria Health-Torresdale Campus and released.
215-854-2819
@MadelineRConway