No one charged in deadly shooting of off-duty Philadelphia police officer Alhassane Barry​, DA says

No one has been charged yet in the deadly shooting of off-duty Philadelphia police officer Alhassane Barry earlier this month, the city's district attorney said.

Suspected shooter talks to authorities

District Attorney Larry Krasner said Thursday investigators believe they identified the person who shot and killed Barry on Aug. 16.

The 29-year-old officer died on Elmwood Avenue near 73rd Street shortly before 4 a.m. in the city's Eastwick neighborhood. He was laid to rest Aug. 17.

The suspected shooter spoke with authorities to explain his version of events with his counsel, Krasner said.

The alleged shooter does not dispute he fired the gun, but his version of what happened will require further forensic testing, Krasner said. Investigators did not release the man's name.

Krasner said investigators recovered the gun they believed was used in the deadly shooting. The gun will be tested to determine whether it was used in the shooting.

Police said another man was also wounded after an altercation involving three men.  

Illegal "speakeasy" under investigation

Krasner turned his attention to the venue where the shooting happened: Nipsey's Hookah Lounge.

"We are going to make every effort to shut this place down," Krasner said.

Krasner said Nipsey's was operating illegally and the owners tried to make the building look abandoned from the outside. The windows were covered with a black material, blocking the view inside.

There was no signage indicating the business was open to the public, Krasner said. He also said the establishment had insulation to keep sound inside.

Krasner said Nipsey's was selling liquor without a liquor license.

According to Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections, the business was cited in 2023 for not having the proper permit for an after-hours smoke lounge. The owner was unreachable for comment.  

"Everybody knows, a bar ain't supposed to be open past [2 a.m.]," Krasner said, "and this shooting occurred when the bar was open and it was more like 3 or 4 in the morning."

Krasner said his office has filed paperwork to shut down the hookah bar. A court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.