Man charged after struggle over gun leads to officer-involved shooting in Kensington, police say
A Philadelphia police officer shot a man after a confrontation in Kensington on Saturday morning, police say.
The incident unfolded just after 10:22 a.m. in the area of Kensington Avenue and Hart Lane. Authorities say a 36-year-old police sergeant assigned as street supervisor for the Kensington Police District was in full uniform when someone flagged him down and reported that a man they were involved in a disturbance with had a gun.
The sergeant approached the man about the disturbance. During the encounter, a brief physical altercation broke out between the man and the individual before the man ran south along Kensington Avenue. Police say the sergeant chased the man behind a property on the 2800 block of Kensington Avenue.
During the chase, the man fell while in possession of the gun. Police say the sergeant and the man then struggled over control of the gun, with the sergeant repeatedly ordering him to drop the weapon.
Authorities say the man began raising the gun during the struggle, and the sergeant fired one shot, striking the man in the wrist and chest.
Responding officers administered aid and took the 39-year-old man to Temple Hospital, where he is in stable condition. Police recovered a gun at the scene loaded with 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
It is unclear if the gun that was fired belonged to the sergeant or the man.
The man was charged with aggravated assault and related offenses.
The sergeant was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Philadelphia Police policy.
Officers could be seen investigating at a corner store at the intersection. Kensington Avenue was blocked off with police tape and patrol vehicles while the investigation was underway.
Authorities say body worn cameras were activated during the incident. Video recovered from the area shows the man falling during the foot chase, dropping the gun, picking it back up and struggling with the sergeant over control of the weapon.
No one else was injured in the shooting.
