Police ID officer and suspect in Kensington confrontation
Philadelphia police on Wednesday identified the officer and suspect involved in a violent confrontation this week in the city's Kensington section.
Philadelphia police on Wednesday identified the officer and suspect involved in a violent confrontation this week in the city's Kensington section.
Officer Gregory Kravitz shot Julius Velasquez, 26, who allegedly tried to stab the officer with a knife in the 3200 block of F Street about 2:50 a.m. Monday, police said.
Velasquez, who lives on the block, was listed in stable condition at Temple University Hospital with gunshot wounds to his right hip and arm. He was charged with aggravated assault and related offenses.
Kravitz, a two-year veteran of the force assigned to the 25th District, was not hurt.
He was responding to a report of a man armed with a knife when he encountered Velasquez. Police said Velasquez attempted to stab Kravitz through the driver's window of the officer's patrol vehicle.
Kravitz accelerated forward away from Velasquez, then exited the vehicle and drew his gun. Police said Velasquez approached Kravitz with the knife raised and the officer fired.
Police recovered the knife, which had a 41/2-inch blade. The confrontation is being investigated by Internal Affairs.
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