Philadelphia, PA — A Philadelphia police sergeant shot an armed 39-year-old man during a struggle over a handgun Saturday morning in Kensington after a street disturbance escalated into a foot chase behind businesses along Kensington Avenue, investigators said.
The shooting happened around 10:22 a.m. near Kensington Avenue and Hart Lane when a uniformed Philadelphia police sergeant assigned to the Kensington Police District was flagged down by a man involved in a dispute with the suspect, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The complainant told the sergeant the man was armed.
Investigators said the encounter quickly turned physical before the suspect ran south on Kensington Avenue, leading the sergeant into the rear area of a property on the 2800 block.
Gun Struggle Captured on Video
According to the preliminary investigation, the suspect fell during the chase while carrying a firearm. Police said video recovered from the area shows the man dropping the gun, picking it back up, and then struggling with the sergeant over control of the weapon.
During the fight, the sergeant repeatedly ordered the man to drop the firearm, investigators said. Police said the suspect began raising the gun during the struggle, prompting the sergeant to fire one round.
The bullet struck the suspect in the wrist and chest.
Responding officers rendered aid before transporting the man to Temple University Hospital, where he remained in stable condition Saturday, according to police. No officers or civilians were injured.
Key Points
• Philadelphia police say a sergeant shot an armed suspect during a struggle in Kensington Saturday morning
• Investigators recovered a loaded handgun containing 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber
• The 39-year-old suspect survived and faces aggravated assault and weapons charges
Police recovered the firearm at the scene and determined it was loaded with 11 live rounds in the magazine and one live round chambered, investigators said.
The suspect, identified only as a 39-year-old Black man, faces charges including aggravated assault, violations of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA), and related offenses.
The sergeant involved in the shooting is a 36-year-old white male assigned to the Kensington Police District.
Multiple Investigations Underway
Philadelphia police said body-worn cameras activated during the incident, adding another layer of evidence to the ongoing investigation.
The case remains under review by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations Unit, Internal Affairs Bureau, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Under department policy, the sergeant has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigations.
The shooting unfolded in one of Philadelphia’s busiest and most heavily policed corridors, where officers frequently respond to narcotics activity, violent crime, and public disturbances. Kensington Avenue has remained a focal point for law enforcement operations and public safety concerns in recent years.
Saturday’s confrontation escalated within moments after the sergeant attempted to investigate the disturbance reported by the complainant. Investigators have not released additional details about what sparked the original dispute before police intervention.
Current Status of Investigation
Officials have not released the suspect’s name, and no additional officers discharged their weapons during the incident. Authorities continue reviewing body-camera footage and surveillance video recovered from the area as investigators determine the full sequence of events leading up to the shooting.