'A gut-wrenching reminder': Temple University mourns loss of police officer shot dead while nabbing robber
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: On Saturday, February 18, a Temple University police officer was shot to death. The incident happened in north Philadelphia while the officer chased a robbery suspect in order to arrest the accused.
Later, a Temple University hospital pronounced the cop dead in a statement. The University sent an alert at 7 pm on February 18 after gunfire shots were heard on the 1700 block of Montgomery Avenue. The identity of the officer is kept under wraps out of respect for his family.
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'Dealing with an unprecedented epidemic of violence'
Temple University President Jason Wingard said in a statement, "I am heartbroken to inform you that Temple University has lost a first responder and hero to senseless gun violence. A Temple police officer was shot this evening while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect at 1700 W. Montgomery Avenue. The officer was later pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital. There are simply no words that can make sense of this tragedy. It tears at our sense of community and safety. We all mourn this unspeakable loss."
He added, "The suspect in the shooting has fled the Temple area. Both the Philadelphia Police Department and the Temple University Police Department are still gathering information regarding the incident. Out of respect for the officer’s family and friends, we are not releasing his identity at this time. This loss comes at a time when gun violence continues its horrific impact on our city and our country. Philadelphia and the nation are dealing with an unprecedented epidemic of violence, and the tragedy that took place tonight is a gut-wrenching reminder of our police officers’ daily bravery and sacrifices to protect our students, faculty, staff and community."
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also sent his condolences on the officer's death and tweeted, "Lori and I are devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community. We're sending prayers to his loved ones, Temple Police, and the entire @TempleUniv community. May his memory be a blessing."
Lori and I are devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 19, 2023
We’re sending prayers to his loved ones, Temple Police, and the entire @TempleUniv community. May his memory be a blessing.
Similar incidents in the past
The incident comes more than a year after a New York City police officer named Jason Rivera was shot dead and another was left injured after a man open-fired on them at a Harlem apartment, as previously reported by MEAWW. At the time, two officers were responding to a 911 call about a woman having a fight with her son at the apartment. Further, last year, in October, two police officers were shot to death and one was injured in Bristol, Connecticut, after they arrived at an apartment from where they received a 911 call reporting domestic violence between two siblings.
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