Philadelphia Police Kill Man After Parkway Confrontation

A confrontation involving Philadelphia police and a man with a gun ended in a fatal shooting Friday morning near 21st Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway in Center City, Philadelphia. Authorities said a SEPTA police officer and a Philadelphia police officer each fired one shot after the man allegedly shot at officers.

Police received reports of an armed man shortly after 11 a.m. and responded to the area, according to authorities. Some callers reported that the man had fired his weapon before officers arrived, but Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said investigators had not confirmed that account.

Officers attempted to communicate with the man using a bullhorn, but their efforts were unsuccessful, police said. Authorities said the man subsequently fired a shot at officers, prompting both officers to fire in response and strike him twice.

The man was taken to Jefferson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 11:36 a.m., according to police. Investigators said a revolver believed to have been used by the man was recovered near park benches at the scene.

The shooting occurred in a busy section of the Ben Franklin Parkway near several museums. Police said officials initially planned to begin closing nearby museums, but the shooting occurred before those measures could be implemented.

Investigators have not publicly identified the man. Authorities also said he was not speaking to officers during the encounter, and police continue to investigate his background and the circumstances that led to the shooting.

Bethel said investigators would examine whether the incident involved a possible attempt to provoke a fatal response from law enforcement.

"We will investigate whether this was a situation of suicide by cop," Bethel said.

Bystanders witnessed the shooting in the busy area, according to the report. Anthony Ciamaichelo, of Northeast Philadelphia, described arriving at the scene and hearing gunfire.

"We come up and we see a bunch of cops and next we know we hear boom boom two shots," said Anthony Ciamaichelo of Northeast Philadelphia.

Police have not released the man's identity or provided further details about what led to the confrontation. The investigation remains ongoing.