Carjacking suspect shot, killed by Philadelphia police after firing shots at officers, leading them on chase
A carjacking suspect was shot and killed by Philadelphia police in Crescentville after allegedly firing shots at officers and leading them on a chase Monday night, authorities said.
Police said the chase ended around 8 p.m. at Langdon Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, where multiple officers shot at the suspect. Police identified the suspect on Tuesday as 51-year-old Jerome Cooper.
Cooper was taken to Jefferson Einstein Hospital and died due to his injuries, police said.
Police said the suspect, later identified as Cooper, was wanted for allegedly shooting a 32-year-old man and stealing his car from the Public Storage facility located near G Street and Hunting Park Avenue in North Philadelphia, shortly after 7 p.m.
Officers went to the Public Storage facility, where they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound in the abdomen and learned his Toyota Camry had been stolen.
Police alleged that at some point during the confrontation between Cooper and the victim, a 29-year-old man at the storage facility exchanged gunfire with Cooper in front of the building. According to police, Cooper then jumped in the Toyota Camry, sped away while continuing to fire his weapon.
A video obtained by CBS Philadelphia that's being used in the investigation by police shows the moment gunfire erupted in North Philly.
Karim was working in his food truck across the street when the shots rang out.
"The sound, the bullet sound, like more than five seconds," Karim said. "Then, I see nothing because I got down on the floor because it's a scary place."
Highway patrol officers initiated a pursuit after they saw the stolen car near 2nd Street and Cheltenham Avenue at around 7:53 p.m., police said. Investigators said the suspect led police on a chase through several neighborhoods, and at one point fired at officers, but none were hit.
The chase ended along the 4600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard, across from Friends Hospital, where the man hit a tree. When he got out of the car, police said Cooper raised his gun at police, and then seven officers fired at the man. He was hit several times and died.
Investigators recovered Cooper's weapon at the scene, police said.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the officers made the right call in initiating this chase.
"You see time and time again that when there is danger, the men and women rise up in this department and go after those individuals who cause harm to our community," Bethel said. "This is the work. We recognize the danger of this job, but this is our charge. We will protect the city, and we will do the job each and every day. Despite the challenges we face."
One officer crashed their car during the chase. They were taken to a hospital and are expected to be OK. No other officers were injured.
The 32-year-old carjacking victim was taken to Temple University Hospital and is said to be stable, according to police. Police said the 29-year-old man who exchanged gunfire with Cooper at the storage facility is being investigated by Philly police and the DA's office.
The seven officers who fired at Cooper have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the shooting investigation. Body-worn cameras and dash cams were on during the Monday night incident.
