Shocking moment an unarmed black man walking between traffic is shot by a plain clothed officer through the closed window of an unmarked police car ‘because he feared he was about to be robbed’
- Joel Johnson, 28, was walking between several cars on Monday night at approximately 8.50pm in Philadelphia
- Video shows Johnson walk up to the detective’s vehicle and in the next moment, several shots are fired and the man falls to the ground
- He was taken to a hospital and is said to be in critical condition
- Police explain that the officer believed that Johnson was a carjacker and also armed with a gun
- No weapon was found at the scene
- The man’s niece said that he is mentally disabled and known to beg for change, the latter fact the police commissioner corroborated
Shocking footage shows the moment that a man said to be mentally disabled was shot by a plainclothes officer in Philadelphia.
Joel Johnson, 28, was walking between several cars on Monday night at approximately 8.50pm when the shooting occurred.
Video shows Johnson walk up to the detective’s vehicle and in the next moment, several shots are fired and the man falls to the ground.
Shocking video shows the moment 28-year-old Joel Johnson was shot while walking the streets of Philadelphia on Monday night
Johnson was rushed to a hospital in critical condition as is expected to survive.
His niece described the man as having special needs and often begging for change. But she also asserted that Johnson was holding a weapon, ABC 13 reports.
Police explain that the officer believed that Johnson was a carjacker and also armed with a gun. He decided to shoot the man from inside his vehicle, in response.
His version of events differs from the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, who says that there was no weapon at the scene.
Johnson was taken to a hospital and is said to be in critical condition
Police explain that the officer believed that Johnson was a carjacker and also armed with a gun and the man was shot in response
‘It’s not automatically an issue of whether there’s a weapon or not. I know for some people they think that’s the way it should be – obviously, it’s the first thing we look for,’ he said.
‘But I’m always going to be very candid with you when I know there’s not one. So I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we haven’t found one, we don’t expect to find one.’
He added that Johnson was known as a panhandler in the area.
‘Why does he deserve this? He stays to himself. He begs for money and just goes home,’ the man’s niece asked.
The man’s niece said that he is mentally disabled and known to beg for change, the latter fact the police commissioner corroborated
The shooting officer – a seven-year veteran – had been heading back to headquarters at the time of the shooting.
He had just been processing the scene when he shot Johnson.
While the officer was at a red light, Johnson emerged from two cars and had his arms extended.
Police say the man was shouting. He is then said to have walked up to the officer’s rolled up window.
Philadelphia Police Captain Sekou Kinebrew added: ‘The detective believed what he saw was a firearm in this male’s hands. The detective, believing he was going to be robbed or something was going to happen to him, produced his firearm, discharged his firearm — we believe at this time — three times.’
‘A lot of people say he just made a hand gesture for change like he always does,’ Johnson’s brother added. ‘The officer was on his phone and when he looked up he got startled, he got nervous, and started shooting through the window.’
The officer has been placed on desk duty.
‘It’s not automatically an issue of whether there’s a weapon or not. I know for some people they think that’s the way it should be – obviously, it’s the first thing we look for,’ he said