Off-duty cop’s fatal shooting of suspect under review

An off-duty Philly SWAT officer shot dead a man who was committing a robbery over the weekend, police said.

The SWAT officer was on the 5700 block of Park Avenue around 2:20 p.m. Saturday when he saw a suspect with a handgun robbing an elderly citizen, according to police

The police report states that the officer identified himself as a police officer and ordered the suspect to to drop the weapon. When the suspect pointed the gun at the officer instead, the officer fired, missing the suspect, who fled on foot, police said.

During the pursuit the suspect and officer exchanged more fire. The suspect collapse at Broad Street and Chew Avenue and was pronounced dead at 3:06 p.m., police said.

“Homicide and Internal Affairs are investigating the incident. The officer will be placed on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation,” a police report stated.

Police did not comment on an NBC10 report which quoted unidentified officers as saying a preliminary probe indicated the shooting was justified.