PHILADELPHIA, PA — Maurice Hill was sentenced Thursday to 120 to 240 years in prison for a 2019 shootout that injured multiple officers and terrorized a North Philadelphia neighborhood, concluding what prosecutors called one of the most harrowing incidents in recent city history.
Hill, 43, received the sentence more than two months after a jury convicted him on several charges stemming from the hours-long standoff on August 14, 2019. He was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, eight counts of assault on law enforcement, nine counts of aggravated assault, and several other offenses including causing a catastrophe and possession of an instrument of crime.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner responded to the sentencing with a written statement: “Maurice Hill’s relentless barrage of bullets terrified an entire community and nearly took the lives of multiple people, including police and neighborhood residents.”
The confrontation began shortly after 4:30 p.m. when narcotics officers attempted to serve a warrant at a residence near North 15th and West Butler streets. As officers entered the home, Hill opened fire with an assault-style rifle, prompting some officers to return fire while others escaped through windows and doors.
The gunfire continued for several hours as Hill remained barricaded inside the building, at times firing on police outside. Six officers were injured by gunfire during the standoff, all of whom survived. Hill eventually surrendered late that night after negotiations involving law enforcement officials and Hill’s attorney.
Authorities described the scene as chaotic and dangerous, with bystanders, neighbors, and officers forced to take cover amid the ongoing threat.
Hill’s sentencing follows years of legal proceedings and delays, with prosecutors arguing for a penalty reflective of the threat Hill posed to public safety.