Killings by police at 25-year record

[Kate]

Y'all be safe out there...

Philadelphia Inquirer

Officials say it's a response to widespread use of guns.

By Barbara Boyer
Inquirer Staff Writer

A deadly Southwest Philadelphia confrontation early yesterday led to the second killing of a robbery suspect by city police in as many days and the 19th killing this year by the department's officers, the highest total in more than a quarter-century.

And it's only October.

In yesterday's shooting, a Maryland man wanted for robbery and attempted murder leveled a loaded semiautomatic at a rookie officer and pulled the trigger, police said - but the pistol jammed.

As the suspect struggled to clear the gun and fired a shot, police said, the officer shot him fatally.

Police and Street administration officials say the latest episodes underscore the gun violence officers are facing during a particularly violent time. "It seems that more people are more inclined to produce firearms and shoot at police," said Capt. Benjamin Naish of the Public Affairs Unit. "It's been a dramatic turn for this year."

Last year, seven suspects were killed by police. This year's total now exceeds the 18 suspects killed in 1994, the most since the FBI began tracking police use of deadly force in 1980. Besides the 19 fatalities in the city, two other suspects were shot to death by Philadelphia police outside the city this year.

During yesterday's confrontation, Tabius Cannon, 31, of Salisbury, Md., was pointing his weapon at Officer John Palmiero when Palmiero fired back, hitting Cannon in the chest and left arm, police said.

Naish said an initial investigation into the shooting showed the use of deadly force was justified. The shooting remains under investigation by Internal Affairs, homicide, and the District Attorney's Office, as is standard any time there is a fatal police shooting.

The shooting came within 48 hours of the South Philadelphia gun battle that left bank-robbery suspect David Henry dead after he fired a bullet that grazed the lip and teeth of Officer Ronald Jann. Last week, police also fatally shot a suspect.

Officials say the police shootings reflect a violent time when homicides in the city are up 7 percent over last year, shootings are up 10 percent, and three officers have been shot, including the killing of Officer Gary Skerski in May. The 19 killings by police contrast with New York City, which has not seen a comparable rise in crime and reported only seven fatal shootings by its police so far this year.

"They're just not reluctant to fire a weapon at police," said Naish, who commanded a police district in West Philadelphia before he became the department's chief spokesman. "There's no question that Mr. Henry was every bit prepared to shoot a police officer in the head."

In Mayor Street's office, spokesman Joe Grace said that while officers are expected to exercise prudence in using deadly force, there is a different climate in the city this year because there "are so many guns on our streets."

"It's clear the number of shootings has increased, and that's a direct correlation to the number of guns in our community," Grace said.

Yesterday's episode unfolded about 1:20 a.m. as officers were investigating an armed robbery reported at 70th Street and Elmwood Avenue. They stopped Cannon, who fit the suspect's description, several blocks away, in the 6800 block of Guyer Avenue in the Eastwick section of Southwest Philadelphia, police said.

Cannon gave officers a driver's license - which police said was not his - then ran west on Guyer, pulling out a handgun as he ran.

He aimed at Palmiero, who is 23 and joined the force last year, and was trying to fire when the pistol jammed, police said. Cannon cleared his weapon - as he did, he fired one round into the street - and was aiming at the officer again when Palmiero opened fire, police said.

Cannon was hit in the chest and an arm and taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m.

Police said Cannon had a lengthy criminal record and was wanted on attempted-murder charges for a Dec. 12 shooting in Salisbury, where he and an accomplice exchanged shots with two other men in an apartment complex.

The two intended victims escaped, but a stray bullet sliced through an apartment and struck an 11-year-old girl in the leg as she slept, said Salisbury Capt. Mark Tyler.

"He was considered armed and very dangerous," Tyler said, adding that Cannon was also a suspect in another shooting. "He was known to carry and use a gun."

Tuesday's fatal shooting also remains under investigation as authorities formally charged two accomplices they say robbed the PNC Bank in South Philadelphia just before Henry was killed. During a running gun battle, a woman was shot in one leg by a stray bullet.

Police say Jaami Williams, 22, of the 7300 block of Frontenac Street, and Jameel Wright, 22, of the 1200 block of Orthodox Street, were with Henry when the three men held up the PNC on Packer Avenue.

Williams and Wright were apprehended after a short foot chase and struggle. Henry was spotted in the suspected getaway car attempting to hide, with a gun clutched to his chest, police said.

The suspects were located in the 200 block of Gerritt Street through a tracking device slipped in with the cash. When police later searched the car where Henry had been hiding, they said they found nearly $29,000 in cash, and masks and gloves.

Williams and Wright have been charged with robbery, theft and related offenses.

[Creeker]

...In Mayor Street's office, spokesman Joe Grace said that while officers are expected to exercise prudence in using deadly force, there is a different climate in the city this year because there "are so many guns on our streets."

"It's clear the number of shootings has increased, and that's a direct correlation to the number of guns in our community," Grace said.

...

I think it is more likely that in the wake of the Abu Jamaya fiasco and popularity of cRap music & video's, it is not seen as being as forbidden and unpopular thing to do as it used to be. We are living in a more permissive society than ever before, where parents are afraid to tell their children "no".

[Piggy]

In other news, court cases are at a 25 year low. :D

[7mmMag]

Is it really relevant that the officer who fired was a "rookie?" Who cares, a bad guy pointed a gun at an officer, and now the bad guy is dead. :rolleyes:

[Curt581]

Is it really relevant that the officer who fired was a "rookie?" Who cares, a bad guy pointed a gun at an officer, and now the bad guy is dead. :rolleyes:

Personally, I think it speaks well of the rookie. Most of the rooks I work with wouldn't have been that composed under stress.

[txinvestigator1]

Wait, doesn't Philly have really strict gun laws? How could this have happened?:rolleyes:

[RO56]

Wait, doesn't Philly have really strict gun laws? How could this have happened?:rolleyes:

Exactly! :eek:

[Jay7376]

All this record number says to me is that the officers must be getting more range time.

[Valor55]

Wait, doesn't Philly have really strict gun laws? How could this have happened?:rolleyes:

Beat me to it.

[Norm357]

When I read the thread title, my first thought was "Excellent". I dont see what the big deal is.

[RO56]

Kate, you failed to include the LAST line from that article:

"For slide shows on child victims of violence and an interactive map on homicides, visit http://go.philly."

Typical crap from the "left" media. Amazing. Truly f-ing amazing.

The liberal bull$hit media include a link to all the "child victims", but do NOT include a link to all the "self-defense uses of a firearm" where guns are used many MORE times as often to SAVE lives ... and where are the links to the stories about all the teenage gangbangers dealing drugs and shooting eachother?

:rolleyes:

[Kate]

Kate, you failed to include the LAST line from that article:

"For slide shows on child victims of violence and an interactive map on homicides, visit http://go.philly."

Typical crap from the "left" media. Amazing. Truly f-ing amazing.

The liberal bull$hit media include a link to all the "child victims", but do NOT include a link to all the "self-defense uses of a firearm" where guns are used many MORE times as often to SAVE lives ... and where are the links to the stories about all the teenage gangbangers dealing drugs and shooting eachother?

:rolleyes:

RO,

I left it out intentionally and I debated changing the original title of the article. I posted this at the Philly LEO site as well, and didn't include the link at the bottom. I did, however, leave the source link so others could link to the Inky if they find it necessary.

While I feel that you all get a bad rap from the Media, I did feel that this article had some importance. No matter what the liberal Media thinks, if this article sends just one officer to the range for more practice, then it was all worthwhile.

You all be safe out there.

[RO56]

Katey, I didn't mean for it to say/look like I was replying to YOU (which, now that I look at it, it DOES look that way).

I was ONLY pointing out the bias of the media.

I probably should have just started it with something like, "Did you notice the last line of the article?" and gone from there.

Again, I wasn't going after you, I was noting the obvious bias of the mainsCream media.

[Kate]

Katey, I didn't mean for it to say/look like I was replying to YOU (which, now that I look at it, it DOES look that way)..

Sometimes people take things the wrong way than what is really being said in post. You can't "hear" the words that someone actually means when they're typing, and can only hope they come out they way you intended them to sound. (if that makes any sense)

No worries, RO. I didn't think you were implying anything at all. I was just adding why I didn't want to include it - which was what you were getting at all along - the Media is beyond BIASED!