Philadelphia erupts after police fatally shoot Walter Wallace Jr in front of family

A black man armed with a knife was fatally shot by police in a heated confrontation in front of the man’s loved ones on Monday afternoon.

An African American man armed with a knife was fatally shot by police in a heated confrontation in front of his family on Monday afternoon.

The shooting happened just before 4pm local time, with two officers firing at the man. He has since been identified as Walter Wallace Jr, 27.

Authorities said Mr Wallace had ignored their directions to drop his weapon. It’s not clear how many times he was shot at.

“Numerous shell casings are in the street. Neighbours are irate, crying, yelling at police,” Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Ellie Rushing tweeted from the scene. US Civil Rights lawyer Ben Crump also tweeted about the incident and said man was shot at more than 10 times, and killed “in front of his loved ones”.

Video of the incident shows a woman approach Mr Wallace on the street, before he walks towards officers and is shot at several times. Mr Wallace Jr was transported to hospital where he later died.

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Lawyer Ben Crump said Walter Wallace Jr was shot in front of his loved ones. Picture: @AttorneyCrump

The fatal shooting has sparked demonstrations in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia cops fatally shot Walter Wallace Jr. today, firing 10+ times at him while he stood at least 10ft away. He allegedly had a knife but cops made NO attempts at de-escalating the situation in this video. They went straight to killing Wallace in front of his loved ones! pic.twitter.com/U2zYGqK7Ag

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) October 27, 2020

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Sergeant Eric Gripp, spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police said officers were called to the block where they encountered a man holding a knife, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sgt Gripp said the man was told to drop the weapon, and he “advanced towards the officers”. The officers were wearing body cameras and investigators are reviewing footage from the scene.

Witnesses said the man had been about three metres from the officers when they opened fire, according to reports. He’d been walking towards them as they officers backed away.

The victim’s father, Walter Wallace Sr., said his mother had been trying to calm the confrontation.

“Why didn’t they use a taser?” Mr Wallace Sr. asked reporters. “His mother was trying to diffuse the situation.”

He also claimed his son had mental health issues and was on medication. “He has mental issues. Why you have to gun him down?”

Walter Wallace Jr., 27, a twin, father, and son, was shot 10 times by police, said his father, Walter Wallace Sr.

A video shows Wallace was at least 10 ft away from the officers when began shooting. His mother begged them not to shoot. https://t.co/vDegRuaW8V pic.twitter.com/xOCz2aH8FA

— Ellie Rushing (@EllieRushing) October 26, 2020

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the office’s Special Investigation Unit will be involved in the investigation into the shooting.

“The DAO Special Investigation Unit responded to today’s fatal shooting of a civilian by police shortly after it occurred, and has been on scene with other DAO personnel since that time investigating, as we do jointly with the PPD Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit, in shootings and fatalities by other means involving police,” Mr Krasner said in a statement.

The city’s mayor Jim Kenney said he watched a video of the incident and that “it presents difficult questions that must be answered.”

He said he has spoken with Wallace’s family.

After the incident, up to 150 people gathered in Malcolm X Park in response to the death.

Protests broke out in Philadelphia throughout Monday night, with crowds of people overturning dumpsters, setting off fireworks and reports of a police car on fire in West Philadelphia.

A police car set alight in West Philadelphia. Picture: @samanthamelamed

West Philly tonight. Photo by the great @jessicagriffin pic.twitter.com/KffLpqfsRN

— Patrick Kerkstra (@pkerkstra) October 27, 2020

Scene on 52nd St: pic.twitter.com/nIfY9oUfmO

— Samantha Melamed (@samanthamelamed) October 27, 2020

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the video footage of the shooting “raises many questions.”

“Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation,” she said. “While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community.

“Everyone involved will forever be impacted.”

—with Fox News