Former Philadelphia police officer charged with murder for Eddie Irizarry shooting


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The former Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry last month has turned himself in to authorities and now faces multiple charges including murder and voluntary manslaughter, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced on Friday. Attorneys for Mark Dial, also 27, called the charges "appalling," telling The Philadelphia Inquirer that they "intend to right this wrong and bring this young man home."
Irizarry was shot on Aug. 14, after police initially claimed he had lunged at them with a knife following an attempted traffic stop. Two days later, police officials recanted their story after viewing body camera footage, which was released by Krasner's office as part of the charging announcement. The footage showed Dial firing through the driver's side window of Irizarry's vehicle "roughly five seconds after exiting a police car," CNN reported, adding that immediately before Dial opened fire "an unidentified voice from outside the car is heard saying, 'I will f**king shoot you!'"
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has already acknowledged the confusion from her department's initial claims, admitting that the public might "not really be sure whether or not they should even trust what we're saying" during a press conference last month. In a statement to the Inquirer Friday, Outlaw confirmed an internal affairs investigation was ongoing, and reiterated that her office "remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities we serve." Earlier this week Outlaw had announced she planned to step down from her position at the end of the month.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"They changed the story and they keep changing the story," Irizarry's aunt told The New York Times in August. "What they're saying are lies," she added, calling the crime "abuse."
According to Krasner, Irizarry's family requested the footage's release, saying the police body cameras would "speak for themselves."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Rafi Schwartz is a Politics Writer with The Week, where he focuses on elections, Congress, and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic, a senior writer with Splinter News, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD, The Forward, and elsewhere.
Rafi currently lives in the Twin Cities, where he does not bike, run, or take part in any team sports. He does, however, have a variety of interests, hobbies, and passions.
-
Lost and found
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 24, 2023
Daily Briefing Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population to leave region amid fears of persecution, Atlantic coast remains under flood warnings from Ophelia, and more
By Justin Klawans Published
-
6 new horror novels to read this fall
The Explainer These upcoming releases will have you on the edge of your seat — or hiding under the covers
By David Faris Published
-
How Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's 22-year sentence compares to other Jan. 6 punishments
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Kansas police raid small-town local newspaper, setting off a press freedoms clash
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ohio voters defeat GOP measure to raise referendum threshold
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ohio is voting on whether to raise the bar on referendums — and a popular abortion amendment
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Oregon lifts ban on drivers pumping their own gas
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former Manson follower Leslie Van Houten out of prison after 50 years
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Florida construction and agricultural workforces diminished after new immigration law takes effect
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
10 states sue FEMA over flood insurance rate hike
Speed Read
By Theara Coleman Published