'Philadelphia is a war zone': thug strolls up to parking official and shoots ... trends now
A Philadelphia parking authority officer was shot in the head in broad daylight by a thug in the City of Brotherly Love last Friday.
The suspect was caught on a surveillance camera walking up behind the 37-year-old male parking official and shooting him in the head at point-blank range at 3.50pm on the 45xx block Frankford Avenue the day after Thanksgiving.
The officer, who was on duty at the time of the crime, is seen in video footage immediately collapsing onto the sidewalk before help arrives.
He is now in stable condition and the PPA is hopeful he will make a full recovery, having primarily been injured in his shoulder and ear.
Police are still investigating the incident and have not yet made any arrests, but believe the victim was a 'target'.
Following the shooting, Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said, 'It's bold. It's brazen and something we're definitely going to do everything we can to solve immediately.'
'We believe he was the intended target,' he continued. 'We have some witnesses saying a car pulled up, shots were fired, and then a car pulled away.'
Crime has surged in Philadelphia over the last handful of years, including a 23 percent rise year-over-year in the total number of crimes. One Twitter user, after viewing the footage of the parking officer being shot, dubbed the birthplace of liberty a 'war zone.'
The suspect is seen here raising his gun to the on-duty parking authority officer's head in a targeted shooting attack that left the officer with injuries to his ear and shoulder
The suspect left the downed officer for dead after shooting him point blank in the head in broad daylight on the day after Thanksgiving
Police remain unsure as to what prompted the shooting, but it may be linked to a parking ticket issued by the victim. Officers are reviewing names of drivers who have recently been ticketed by the enforcement agent.
Vanore said the parking authority is working with the police department.
'They're assisting us on going through what he did today and we'll go back through that very carefully to see what we could find out,' he said.
The injured officer was known to the Frankford, Philadelphia neighborhood community, where he was on assignment before the shooting.
Bamba Sissoko of Frankford said he speaks with the officer every day. 'He's a good guy, really nice guy,' he told ABC6.
A statement by the Philadelphia Police Department said it is seeking the public’s help locating the man, who is described as Black or Hispanic, 5’9″ – 6’0″, thin, wearing a navy-blue hooded sweatshirt, green cargo pants, black mask, gloves, and black boots.
'The male should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Shooting Investigation Group (SIG) at 215-686-8270 or call 911. DC 22-15-085402,' it added.
One week prior to the targeted shooting of an officer, a 35-year-old sanitation worker, Ikeem Johnson, was killed on the job in what police believe was also a targeted attack - though investigators are still searching for a reason why.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the shooting 'wasn't random.'
'We don't believe it was random just based off the fact the suspect knew where the victim was, meaning at some
