Protests turn violent after police shooting of black man in Philadelphia

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Violent protests took place in Philadelphia Monday night, following the fatal police shooting of a black man who was reportedly mentally ill and armed with a knife, Fox News reports. At least 30 police officers are understood to have been injured in clashes with demonstrators. Around 35 people, including five juveniles, were arrested.

Walter Wallace Jr., aged 27, suffered fatal gunshot wounds when officers fired at him on Monday afternoon. Police spokesperson Tanya Little told Fox News the officers had responded to a report of a person with a weapon. “Responding officers witnessed a male on the block. Immediately they noticed he had a knife in his possession and he was brandishing it and waiving it erratically,” Sergeant Eric Gripp said in a statement.

According to CBS News, Wallace’s father, Walter Wallace Sr., told the Philadelphia Inquirer his son was on medication for mental problems and that his mother had been trying to defuse the situation prior to the shooting. Questioning why the officers resorted to lethal force, Wallace Sr. asked: “Why you have to gun him down?”

After the shooting, protestors marched to a police station and officers took up positions behind barricades, Fox News said. The demonstrations then became violent as protestors reportedly threw objects at officers and at least one police vehicle was set on fire. Armed with batons, police chased protestors away from the main thoroughfare and the crowd dispersed, Fox News reported.

The officers who carried out the shooting have been taken off active duty. The police department and Philadelphia’s district attorney have said there will be an investigation into Wallace Junior’s death.

Latest Worthy News