Six Philadelphia police officers were shot on Wednesday during a drug raid on a home where a shooter is holed up and continues to fire from the residential building.
Philadelphia Police said the officers did not have life-threatening injuries.
A seventh officer was injured in a car accident on his way to the scene. Six officers were transported to Temple University Hospital and the seventh was taken to Einstein Medical Center.
The situation started unfolding around 4.30pm along the 3700 block of North 15th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a male suspect began shooting from a home in the area.
Local reports described ‘rapid fire’ that has taken place at least every 20 minutes. It’s believed the suspect fired with an AK-47.
Authorities have taken at least one suspect in custody who they arrested inside the same building as the shooter while executing a warrant as part of a narcotics investigation.
Six Philadelphia police officers were shot on Wednesday during a drug raid on a home where a shooter is holed up and continues to fire from the residential building in the Nicetown neighborhood
Dozens of armed police crowded the 3700 block of North 15th Street in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon following reports of an active shooting situation
Philadelphia Police said the officers did not have life-threatening injuries. Officers were seen taking positions along the block (pictured) as they attempt to control the shooter situation
When officers tried to issue the warrant, a couple of cops ran upstairs but didn’t realize the gunman was waiting downstairs.
The gunman reportedly fired an AK-47 through the ceiling.
There are at least two officers barricaded inside the home as the shooter continues to fire.
The shooter was moving up and down the interior stairs in the building, shooting into the ceiling and outside, according to Fox 29.
Between 6.20pm and 7.15pm no other shots were heard in the area. By 7.30pm another round of shots were fired. The standoff has stretched into a third hour.
‘Officers are attempting to communicate with the shooter; imploring him to surrender and avoid further injuries,’ Sgt Eric Gripp tweeted. ‘Suspect is still firing at officers. STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA,’ Gripp added.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said numerous agents are on the scene to assist Philadelphia police, including SWAT.
Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner arrived at Temple hospital shortly after the injured officers were transported there.
Police are seen urging people to leave the area as they investigate an active shooting situation
The shooter was moving up and down the interior stairs in the building, shooting into the ceiling and outside
A police officer patrols the block near a house as they investigate the shooting situation
A massive police presence was set up outside a house as they continued to investigate the incident
‘The President has been briefed on the shooting in Philadelphia and continues to monitor the situation,’ Hogan Gidley, principal deputy White House press secretary, told the DailyMail.com.
Attorney General William Barr has also been briefed on the situation.
Footage from ABC6 shows officers lining the street and surrounding a building with their guns drawn as a gunman fired shots at police.
Police are asking that news helicopters stay away from the area as they are hindering operations.
Officers could be seen crouching behind police vehicles on the blocked off street.
Multiple officers took cover alongside a building as the unidentified gunman continued to fire at them.
Multiple officers took cover alongside a building as the unidentified gunman continued to fire at them
Authorities evacuated people from their homes and nearby businesses as the gunman continued to fire off shots
Authorities said the injured officers were transported to the Temple University Hospital (pictured)
Footage from ABC6 shows officers lining the street and surrounding a building with their guns drawn as a gunman fired shots at police
Video showed two officers carrying a man and putting them in the back of a police car.
Authorities evacuated people from their homes and nearby businesses as they attempted to take control over the situation.
Several day cares and churches are in the immediate area. There have been no reports of civilians being injured by gunfire.
About 80 children were inside nearby daycare, Precious Babies Learning Academy, but they are safe. They were evacuated from the center at 7.20pm.
Police officers were seen holding the children’s hands and carrying some of the smaller children.
The children’s ages range from 6 weeks old to 10 years old.
Around 6.30pm Temple University tweeted that a lockdown ‘is in effect for Health Sciences Center Campus’.
‘Seek shelter. Secure doors. Be silent. Be still. Police are responding,’ the tweet read.
That lockdown was lifted about an hour later, according to the university.