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State Researcher
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Phila. Police Officer Critical After Shooting
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― A massive manhunt is underway after a Philadelphia Police officer was shot during an apparent robbery in the West Oak Lane section of the city Wednesday. The officer was the third cop shot in four days in the City of Brotherly Love.
Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said 54-year-old Officer Charles Cassidy, a 25-year veteran of the force, was shot near 66th Avenue and Broad Street just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Johnson said the officer was making his rounds when he unknowingly walked into a robbery in progress at a Dunkin' Donuts.
The suspect shot the officer in the head, stealing his gun before fleeing the scene. The unidentified officer was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center in extremely critical condition.
Johnson said doctors were doing everything possible to help the officer, who was admitted into emergency surgery.
Chopper 3 was over the scene as dozens of officers searched for the suspect throughout the surrounding area and stormed a home in the 6800 block of N. 19th Street and the 7000 block of N. Broad Street.
According to CBS 3 Investigative Reporter Walt Hunter, the manhunt was the largest in the department's history.
Police are reviewing video which apparently caught the incident. Authorities plan to release an image of the suspect sometime Wednesday.
The suspect is described as a heavyset African American male in his 20s, approximately 5'11"- 6' tall, wearing a dark hoodie, tan khaki pants, black and white striped tan boots and has a tattoo of a spider on his left hand.
"He's extremely armed and dangerous and has no regard for human life at all," Johnson said.
Johnson said the wounded officer is married and has three children, one in high school, two in college. Mayor Street has joined family members at the hospital.
All schools in the Northwest section of the city were locked down during the police search, but they have since been reopened. (Click here for a list of schools that were on lock down).
LaSalle University officials said all classes prior to 5 p.m. have been canceled and they are awaiting a decision on evening classes.
The incident happened less than 24 hours after an officer was shot in the shoulder while responding to a shooting in Center City Tuesday night. It marks the forth police officer shot in the city this year. Click here to read more...
Johnson said the latest violence can directly be attributed to a gun problem within the city.
"The availability of guns are really, completely out of hand here in the city of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
No arrests have been made in Wednesday's shooting.
Phila. Police Officer Critical After Shooting
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― A massive manhunt is underway after a Philadelphia Police officer was shot during an apparent robbery in the West Oak Lane section of the city Wednesday. The officer was the third cop shot in four days in the City of Brotherly Love.
Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said 54-year-old Officer Charles Cassidy, a 25-year veteran of the force, was shot near 66th Avenue and Broad Street just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Johnson said the officer was making his rounds when he unknowingly walked into a robbery in progress at a Dunkin' Donuts.
The suspect shot the officer in the head, stealing his gun before fleeing the scene. The unidentified officer was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center in extremely critical condition.
Johnson said doctors were doing everything possible to help the officer, who was admitted into emergency surgery.
Chopper 3 was over the scene as dozens of officers searched for the suspect throughout the surrounding area and stormed a home in the 6800 block of N. 19th Street and the 7000 block of N. Broad Street.
According to CBS 3 Investigative Reporter Walt Hunter, the manhunt was the largest in the department's history.
Police are reviewing video which apparently caught the incident. Authorities plan to release an image of the suspect sometime Wednesday.
The suspect is described as a heavyset African American male in his 20s, approximately 5'11"- 6' tall, wearing a dark hoodie, tan khaki pants, black and white striped tan boots and has a tattoo of a spider on his left hand.
"He's extremely armed and dangerous and has no regard for human life at all," Johnson said.
Johnson said the wounded officer is married and has three children, one in high school, two in college. Mayor Street has joined family members at the hospital.
All schools in the Northwest section of the city were locked down during the police search, but they have since been reopened. (Click here for a list of schools that were on lock down).
LaSalle University officials said all classes prior to 5 p.m. have been canceled and they are awaiting a decision on evening classes.
The incident happened less than 24 hours after an officer was shot in the shoulder while responding to a shooting in Center City Tuesday night. It marks the forth police officer shot in the city this year. Click here to read more...
Johnson said the latest violence can directly be attributed to a gun problem within the city.
"The availability of guns are really, completely out of hand here in the city of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
No arrests have been made in Wednesday's shooting.