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Killing of Walter Wallace

Coordinates: 39°57′29″N 75°14′38″W / 39.957928°N 75.243799°W / 39.957928; -75.243799
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Killing of Walter Wallace
Frame from video of Wallace walking towards police
DateOctober 26, 2020 (2020-10-26)
Time4 pm
Location6100 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates39°57′29″N 75°14′38″W / 39.957928°N 75.243799°W / 39.957928; -75.243799
TypeShooting
ParticipantsPhiladelphia police
Deaths1
Chargesnone
Shooting of Walter Wallace is located in Philadelphia
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace (Philadelphia)
Shooting of Walter Wallace is located in Pennsylvania
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace (Pennsylvania)
Shooting of Walter Wallace is located in the United States
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace
Shooting of Walter Wallace (the United States)

On October 26, 2020, Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot by police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two Philadelphia Police Department officers arrived in the area to respond to a domestic dispute. When they arrived, Wallace moved towards them. The two officers backed away while asking him to put down the knife he had, and as Wallace advanced towards them, each officer fired several rounds at Wallace in the shoulder and chest. He later died in the hospital. Wallace's family claimed Wallace was having a mental health crisis and that they were attempting to call for an ambulance.

In response to the killing, demonstrations occurred throughout Philadelphia on October 26 and 27, many of which escalated into violence and looting, leading to arrests, injuries to police, deployment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and a citywide curfew.

People involved

Walter Wallace Jr. was an aspiring rapper and father of nine who was married in October 2020. At the time of his death, he was 27 years old.[1] According to family members and the family's attorney, Wallace suffered from mental illness, including bipolar disorder, and was taking lithium.[2][3] Wallace was awaiting trial for making terroristic threats.[4] His rap songs included lyrics about killing police.[5]

Shooting

On October 26, 2020, police attended three separate times to a house on the 6100 block of Locust Street in the predominantly black neighborhood of Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia.[1][6] At around 4:00 pm, during their third arrival, they came in response to reports of a person screaming and a man assaulting an elderly female. Video on social media shows Wallace walking into the street as people yell and two police officers aim their guns at him. At one point, Wallace, who is several feet away from the officers in the video, walks toward them as they quickly move backward, telling him at least twice to "put the knife down".[1] Police and eyewitness reports both claim that Wallace was brandishing a knife during the confrontation, though it was not clear from the video.[7]

The camera points down toward the ground as several shots are heard.[8] Wallace's mother tried to stop him while pleading for the officers not to shoot him moments before the officers fired.[9] Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said each officer fired about seven rounds, with an unknown number of shots striking Wallace.[10] One of the officers placed Wallace in a police vehicle and drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.[11]

The officers involved in the shooting were moved to desk duty pending an investigation.[12]

Investigation

Investigators said the officers involved were wearing police body cameras, and the footage will be part of the investigation.[10] Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced that they would be releasing the body camera footage as well as 911 tapes as soon as the department shared them with Wallace's family.[7]

The Wallace family's attorney, Shaka Johnson, said the family had called for an ambulance to get Wallace help with a mental health crisis, not for police intervention, and that Wallace was suffering from bipolar disorder.[3] Wallace's parents said officers knew their son was in a mental health crisis because they had been to the family's house three times on October 26.[13] Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the police dispatch prior to the shooting said, "tell the officers to use caution in responding to this, it’s an ongoing domestic issue going on up there."[1]

It is unknown if the police knew Wallace had mental health issues, as well as several criminal charges, before arriving on scene.[1]

Reactions

Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr., said his son had mental health issues and was on medication and asked why the police did not use a Taser instead.[14]

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the shooting—partially captured on video by a bystander—raised "difficult questions that must be answered". Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said there would be an investigation, and that neither officer was equipped with a Taser, as many officers in Philadelphia do not carry them.[1][8] She also suggested the need for a "behavioral health unit" within the Philadelphia Police Department.[7] Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby showed support for the officers, saying, "Our police officers are being vilified for doing their job and keeping the community safe, after being confronted by a man with a knife. We support and defend these officers."[12]

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris published a statement, sharing, "Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr....We cannot accept that in this country a mental health crisis ends in death."[15]

Protests and rioting

Philadelphia

October 26

On the night of October 26 into the morning of October 27, protesters marched through West Philadelphia, and video posted on social media appeared to show the police clashing with demonstrators. The violence and unrest then spread to other parts of West Philadelphia and other adjacent city neighborhoods. Police arrested at least 91 people overnight, charging most with looting.[10]

According to the Philadelphia Police Department, thirty police officers were injured, in most cases by bricks and rocks that were thrown by protesters. Five police vehicles and one fire department vehicle were vandalized.[8] A 56-year-old female police officer received a broken leg after being hit by a pickup truck.[16][17]

October 27

On October 27, the state and city authorities requested help from the Pennsylvania National Guard, which then mobilized several hundred members of the armed forces.[12] According to police reports, businesses began getting looted right before 9 pm in North Philadelphia, with allegedly one thousand people looting businesses in Port Richmond.[18] Residents from several districts of Philadelphia were instructed by police to stay indoors to avoid "widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting".[2]

The Communist Party for Socialism and Liberation held a march from Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia through the University of Pennsylvania campus to Clark Park. Protestors at the march called for the defunding of the Philadelphia Police Department and the arrest of the officers involved. The march was endorsed by six justice organizations, including the Penn Community for Justice and the city's Black Lives Matter chapter.[19]

Violence broke out between police and protesters near a police precinct, with some in the crowd throwing rocks, light bulbs, and bricks at the police, leaving one officer injured.[12] Police officers armed with riot gear lined the streets, and broke up large groups to arrest those accused of throwing projectiles, by hitting them with batons and tackling them.[20] At least 23 officers were injured, nine police vehicles were damaged, and 81 arrests were made on charges of trespassing, assault on police, and disorderly conduct.[18]

Video footage from the protests also showed a slow-moving SUV being surrounded by police. Officers with batons surrounded the vehicle, smashed its windows, yanked its driver and a passenger from the car, threw them onto the ground, and then pulling a toddler from the backseat.[21]

October 28

In response to the protests, Philadelphia announced a citywide curfew on October 28 from 9:00 pm on October 28 to 6:00 am the following day.[18]

Reactions

Both Wallace's father and his cousin, Anthony Fitzhugh, decried any looting or violence which took place during the protests.[2][1] White House Director of Strategic Communications Alyssa Farah said on October 27 that the White House was "prepared to deploy federal resources" in response to the protests.[22] Regarding the riots, US President Donald Trump said, "It's a terrible thing, what I'm witnessing is terrible, and frankly that the mayor or whoever it is that's allowing people to riot and loot and not stop them is also just a horrible thing".[23] Trump also said, "Last night [Monday] Philadelphia was torn up by Biden-supporting radicals....Biden stands with the rioters, and I stand with the heroes of law enforcement."[3] Biden told reporters, "There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and the violence. None whatsoever."[24]

Additional locations

A group of protestors gathered in Portland, Oregon on October 27, and marched through North Portland.[11] It was one of three separate demonstrations in the city that night, with one crowd gathering at Arbor Lodge Park and marched to Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan's house, and called on him to further defund the Portland Police Bureau.[citation needed]

Protests and violence were seen in New York City on October 27, with protesters arrested in Brooklyn after reports of damage to property. Police stated that police vehicles were damaged, and trash cans, American flags and additional objects were set on fire in videos on social media. Officers and protesters met near Boerum Place, a train station in Brooklyn, where several officers were reportedly injured after a car tried to drive through a group of police.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Walter Wallace Jr. Struggled With Mental Health Issues, Family Says". NBC10 Philadelphia. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Calvert, Scott (October 28, 2020). "Philadelphia Sees More Unrest After Police Shoot, Kill Walter Wallace Jr". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Philadelphia rocked by fresh unrest after police shooting". BBC News. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Calvert, Scott (October 28, 2020). "Philadelphia Police Shooting: Who Was Walter Wallace Jr., and What Happened?". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  5. ^ https://www.foxnews.com/us/walter-wallace-philadelphia-police-rap-cops
  6. ^ Yancey-Bragg, N'dea; Culver, Jordan (October 27, 2020). "'Stop This Violence': Philadelphia Police Report Large Crowd of Looters as Walter Wallace's Father Calls for Peace". USA Today.
  7. ^ a b c Dale, Maryclaire (October 28, 2020). "Philadelphia pledges better response after Black man's death". Associated Press. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Paybarah, Azi; Diaz, Johnny (October 27, 2020). "Protests in Philadelphia After Police Fatally Shoot Black Man". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Walter Wallace: Philadelphia braces for unrest as curfew declared". Al Jazeera. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Chang, David; DeLucia, Matt (October 26, 2020). "VIDEO: Mother Tries to Restrain Son Moments Before He Was Shot, Killed by Police". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved October 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ a b Haas, Elise (October 28, 2020). "Candlelight vigil held for Philadelphia's Walter Wallace". KOIN. Retrieved October 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b c d Morales, Mark; Almasy, Steve; Levenson, Eric (October 27, 2020). "Philadelphia sees more protests and looting as authorities investigate police shooting of Black man with knife". CNN. Retrieved October 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Lauer, Claudia (October 27, 2020). "Philadelphia victim's family sought ambulance, not police". Associated Press. Retrieved October 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Philadelphia: Protests after police fatally shoot black man". BBC News. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  15. ^ McCrone, Brian X. (October 27, 2020). "Biden, Harris Express 'Shock and Grief' Over Police Shooting of Walter Wallace Jr". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Freiman, Jordan; Dakss, Brian (October 27, 2020). "Police fatally shoot Black man, sparking violent protests in Philadelphia". CBS News. Retrieved October 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Culver, N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Jordan (October 28, 2020). "'Stop this violence': Philadelphia police report large crowd of looters as Walter Wallace's father calls for peace". USA Today. Retrieved October 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b c Yancey-Bragg, N'dea; Neiburg, Jeff (October 28, 2020). "Philadelphia prepares for another night of protests over Walter Wallace killing after second night turns violent". USA Today. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  19. ^ Singh, Ece Yildirim, Pia (October 28, 2020). "'A moral evil': Penn community condemns Philadelphia police killing of Walter Wallace Jr". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved October 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Klemko, Robert; Shepherd, Katie; Ewing, Maura (October 27, 2020). "National Guard responds as protests over Walter Wallace killing engulf Philadelphia". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  21. ^ Orso, Anna. "Video surfaces showing Philadelphia police bashing SUV windows, then beating driver while child was in backseat". https://www.inquirer.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  22. ^ Jones, Zoe Christen (October 27, 2020). "White House "prepared to deploy federal resources" after unrest following police shooting in Philadelphia". CBS News. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  23. ^ Otterbein, Holly (October 28, 2020). "Trump stokes suburban fears after Philadelphia shooting". Politico. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  24. ^ Wise, Alana (October 28, 2020). "'No Excuse For The Looting': Biden, Trump Respond To Philadelphia Protests". NPR. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  25. ^ "Walter Wallace protests in Brooklyn erupt into riots, looting". ABC7 New York. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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