PHILADELPHIA — A 40-year-old man was fatally shot by police Friday evening after opening fire on officers responding to a gun complaint on the 2900 block of North Lawrence Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
The incident began around 5:59 p.m. when Officers Maria Mairone, Scottie Martinez, Ryan Perez, and Carl Szylejko of the 25th District responded to a report of a person with a gun. As Officers Mairone and Martinez approached the area, they came under fire from a lot next to a residence. The officers took cover behind a marked patrol vehicle.
Gunfire then erupted from inside the residence itself. Moments later, Ricardo Sosa, 40, emerged from the home armed with a handgun and began firing at the officers while moving toward and entering a parked, unoccupied police vehicle.
The officers returned fire as Sosa entered the driver’s seat and continued shooting. Sosa exited the vehicle shortly after and collapsed nearby. He was transported to Temple University Hospital and pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.
Police recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson 9MM handgun from inside the police vehicle, along with fired cartridge casings. Investigators also located body-worn camera footage from three of the officers involved.
The four officers, with service ranging from two to nine years, have been placed on administrative duty as part of standard procedure. Investigations are ongoing by the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit, and the District Attorney’s Office.