Philadelphia gunman surrenders after hourslong police standoff

Gunman surrenders in Philadelphia — (Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/AP)

A gunman who fired on police in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, sending six officers to the hospital with injuries, surrendered early Thursday morning and was taken into custody, Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp said. The shooting began at about 4:30 p.m. when police went to serve a narcotics warrant, and things "went awry almost immediately," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said. "It's nothing short of a miracle that we don't have multiple officers killed today."

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All six officers have been released from hospitals, Gripp said, and the as-yet-unidentified suspect was taken to nearby Temple University Hospital for treatment related to tear gas exposure. The dramatic hourslong standoff included two officers and three handcuffed suspects being rescued from the house by a SWAT team, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was on the scene to help assist Philadelphia police. Mayor Jim Kenney said he is thankful no officer was hit with life-threatening injuries. "I'm a little angry about someone having all that weaponry and all that firepower, but we'll get to that another day," he added.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.