At least six Philadelphia police officers were wounded, at least one reportedly grazed in the head, in an ongoing shootout in the city's Nicetown neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon that has been unfolding for almost two hours.
Three officers were rushed to Temple University Hospital, officials told Fox 29.
Three other officers were taken to Einstein Hospital, at least one of them was shot in the arm. All six officers are in stable condition and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Two other officers, including a police sergeant, were injured in an accident related to the emergency response and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
High-ranking police officials said that two officers with the Narcotics Strike Force were serving a warrant at a multifamily home when a shooter opened fire at the home. The two officers are barricaded in separate rooms with as many as four suspects in what may be a drug-related offense. At least one suspect is actively shooting, firing up a stairwell from a lower level in the building or potentially moving up and down the stairwell while doing so. One officer is barricaded in a bedroom with two suspects while another is in a bathroom with another suspect.
Hostage negotiators, as well as the SWAT team, is on the scene and will try to enter the building as soon as they are able to.
Hundreds of rounds of gunfire could be heard although the weapon being used by the shooter remains unknown.
One suspect is in custody.
The situation was being described as an active shooting scene that began around 4:30 p.m.
Officers called for backup frantically saying "shots fired, shots fired at North 15th street."
Video footage of the scene showed a massive police presence in the neighborhood as hundreds of responding police officers and police cars from the Philadelphia Police Department as well as special agents from the Philadelphia Field Division blocked off the streets surrounding 15th and Butler streets, crouching behind cars, many with their guns drawn, in search of a possible gunman, according to reports by WCAU.
One officer appeared injured and was taken away in a police car. Video also showed two other officers carrying a man and putting them in the back of a police car, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Police are cautioning the community to stay indoors as gunshots continue to ring out in the neighborhood, in one-minute increments, and police search for an active shooter.
PPD Sgt. Eric Gripp tweeted "Suspect is still firing. STAY OUT OF THE AREA."
This is pretty insane and yet another example of the bravery of police officers in America. So, NSG, is this yet another example of gun violence in America or is it more representative of the gradual decay of our once proud cities? In my opinion, it is the latter. The City of Brotherly Love doesn't seem to convey much brotherly love anymore.
