Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Friday 16 august 2019

6 police shot in standoff that 'could have been far worse'

By KRISTEN DE GROOT to the shooter and not the was prohibited from pos-
Associated Press drone. sessing firearms because of
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A A nearby day care cen- past convictions.
gunman barricaded him- ter was locked down for Hill's lawyer, Shaka John-
self inside a Philadelphia hours and later evacuated, son, said Hill called him dur-
rowhouse for 7½ hours, firing with police officers helping ing the standoff asking for
on police and wounding six carry babies and two city help surrendering. Johnson
in a standoff that trapped buses set up where shaken then called Krasner, and
two officers and paralyzed children waited for their the two men patched in
a neighborhood, all while parents to pick them up. both Hill and the police
the commissioner and the While standoffs with police commissioner, according
shooter's attorney tried to are not uncommon, the sit- to Krasner.
negotiate a surrender. uation in Philadelphia drew Hill told Johnson he wanted
Philadelphia Police Com- particular attention be- to make it out alive to see
missioner Richard Ross ex- cause of how long gunfire his newborn daughter and
pressed amazement that was exchanged and the teenage son again.
the standoff, which began fact that the commissioner President Donald Trump
Wednesday when offi- made the unusual decision weighed in on the shootout
cers attempted to serve a to speak to the shooter di- Thursday morning, saying
drug warrant, ended with rectly and that two police the gunman "should never Police take shooting suspect, Maurice Hill, into custody after an
no one dead and no life- officers were trapped dur- have been allowed to be hourslong standoff with police, that wounded several police of-
threatening injuries, despite ing the standoff. on the streets." ficers, in Philadelphia early Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019.
the gunman firing over 100 The suspect was identified "He had a long and very Associated Press
rounds.It "could have been by Philadelphia District At- dangerous criminal re-
far worse," Ross said Thurs- torney Larry Krasner as cord," he wrote in the ed to see done. made the unusual decision
day outside the Philadel- Maurice Hill, 36. Krasner said tweet. "Looked like he was The standoff started around to be the person negotiat-
phia Police Department. Hill had an extensive crimi- having a good time af- 4:30 p.m. as officers went to ing with Hill was because
"This was a very dynamic nal history, including drug, ter his capture, and after a home in a north Philadel- he was "so worried" about
situation, one that I hope gun and robbery charges. wounding so many police. phia neighborhood of brick his officers stuck inside.
we never see again." Krasner said Hill should not Long sentence — must get and stone rowhomes to "I wouldn't be able to live
The gunman came out of have been on the streets much tougher on street serve a narcotics warrant with myself if I was 200 feet
the home after police used but stopped short of saying crime!" in an operation "that went away," he said Thursday.
tear gas. He was taken to a there was any specific fail- In the aftermath of the awry almost immediately," Three people who officers
hospital for evaluation and ure by law enforcement. standoff, Philadelphia's top Ross said. had taken into custody in
then placed in custody. "I think it's fair to say the federal prosecutor said it Many officers "had to es- the house before the shoot-
As officers flooded the criminal justice system, im- was precipitated by a dis- cape through windows ing started were also safely
scene, the situation grew perfect as it is, did not stop respect for law enforce- and doors to get (away) evacuated, police said.
chaotic at times. Police this terrible incident," he ment that the district attor- from a barrage of bullets," Police tried to push crowds
took to Twitter to ask media told reporters at a news ney is championing. Ross said. of onlookers and residents
helicopters to pull back at conference Thursday. "This vile rhetoric puts our The six officers who were back from the scene. In po-
the beginning of the stand- Pennsylvania prison officials police in danger," Mc- struck by gunfire have been lice radio broadcasts, of-
off, saying they feared the said a man with the same Swain, the U.S. attorney, released from hospitals. ficers could be heard call-
gunman might be able to name and date of birth said Thursday in a news re- Two other officers who ing for backup as reports of
see police positions in the served about 2½ years on lease, saying Krasner "rou- were trapped inside the officers getting shot poured
footage. People who had drug charges and was pa- tinely calls police and pros- house for about five hours in. "There was just a lot of
been blocked or pulled roled in 2006 and served ecutors corrupt and racist." after the shooting broke screaming and chaos,"
from their homes clam- more than a year for ag- Ross, the commissioner, out were freed by a SWAT said Abdul Rahman Mu-
ored for information, and gravated assault and be- said the gunman had at team well after dark fell. hammad, 21, an off-duty
at times, some onlookers fore being released in 2013. least an AR-15 military-style Ross said the reason he medic.q
shouted at or shoved offi- State court online court weapon and a handgun.
cers. Many ignored orders records indicate that man On Thursday, politicians CAR RENTAL 5616944
by police to stay back, had multiple arrests in Phil- from Pennsylvania called
ducking under or stepping adelphia and adjacent for new gun-control mea-
over police tape. Delaware County between sures. Democratic Mayor We Rent:
At one point, two men 2001 and 2012, producing Jim Kenney told reporters Cars- Vans - SUV
launched a drone, and convictions that include called on state and fed-
when police tracked it perjury, fleeing and elud- eral lawmakers to "step up
down and confiscated it, ing, escape and weapons or step aside" and let cit-
a crowd of people already offenses. ies deal with the problem
on edge shouted for the U.S. Attorney William Mc- themselves. He did not give
officers to pay attention Swain told reporters that Hill specifics on what he want-