Officer Injured in Shooting Near Overbrook High School
Philadelphia, PA – A Philadelphia police officer was shot on Wednesday afternoon during a chaotic scene outside Overbrook High School. The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. near N. 59th Street and Columbia Avenue, where numerous fights had erupted, prompting additional police units to respond.
According to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the officer was shot in the stomach after a confrontation involving an adult wielding a weapon escalated. "It appears during this altercation, the individual fired the weapon into the ground, causing a ricochet that struck my officer," Bethel explained.
The officer, a 26-year-old rookie who joined the force in 2024, was quickly transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is currently in critical but stable condition. Mayor Cherelle Parker urged the community to keep the officer and his family in their thoughts during a press briefing.
The adult involved, identified as 30-year-old Dachan Seay, has been apprehended, and police reported that no officers fired their weapons during the incident. A second teenager was also taken into custody in connection with the unrest. District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that Seay would be held accountable for his actions, highlighting the importance of adults taking responsibility in such situations.
While fights outside the school are not uncommon, Bethel condemned the adult’s involvement, emphasizing the need for de-escalation rather than escalation. In response to the incident, the School District of Philadelphia canceled all after-school programming, expressing support for the injured officer.
This shooting marks the sixth police-involved incident in Philadelphia this year, illustrating ongoing concerns for officer safety amid rising tensions in the city.
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