Violence Erupts in Philly after Police shoot Walter Wallace Jr.
Video shows the 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr walking — not running or charging or aggressively approaching — toward the officers, who could be seen scrambling while retreating and aiming their guns at him. Wallace continued to walking when the officers fired their weapons in front of multiple onlookers which included his Mother. Markers on the ground at the scene showed what appeared to be at least 12 shots fired during the encounter that took place around 4 p.m. When the shooting happened, Wallace did not appear to be close enough to the officers to pose a mortal threat to them.
Officers shoot Walter Wallace Jr 10x, a Black man with a history of mental instability.
Wallace’s father told reporters that his son suffered from mental illness and wondered why they had to resort to using lethal force.
“Why didn’t they use a Taser?” Walter Wallace Sr. asked. “His mother was trying to defuse the situation.”
He added: “He has mental issues. Why you have to gun him down?”
The Philadelphia Police Department said it would review the shooting as well as the officers’ bodycam footage.
Following news of the shooting violence erupted throughout the city including looting and clashes with police that lasted will into the night. A reported 30 police officers were injured and estimated 35 people arrested for rioting.