PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police have identified a person of interest in the aftermath of a shooting at a corner store in Fairhill that saw a police officer shot in the leg and a suspect shot and killed by that officer’s partner. The family of that suspect is disputing the police account of events.
The family of 28-year-old Alexander Spencer held a vigil on Saturday night outside the corner store where the shooting happened. One of Spencer’s cousins spoke to KYW Newsradio broadcast partner NBC10.
“He was a good cousin. He takes care of his kids. He’s never out just getting into trouble. He do what he’s gotta do to his family, simple as that. That’s not right what they did,” he said.
“And now, they don’t got no father, because the cops want to antagonize people…. That’s not right.”
Spencer’s cousin told NBC10 he believes that Spencer was playing on a gaming machine in the store when the officers approached and said something to provoke him.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Police say, they are looking for a person of interest who picked up the gun Spencer used and fled the store after the shooting.
Police have identified him as Jose Quinones-Mendez, 42. He is wanted on charges including a gun violation, theft, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.
The Police Department is asking the public for help finding Quinones-Mendez. According to police, he is 5-foot-8 and weighs about 160 lbs., and he is to be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about where Quinones-Mendez can be found is encouraged to call 911 or the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334.
According to police, around 8:46 p.m. on Friday, the two officers from the 24th District were out on the beat when they entered the corner store at North Mascher and West Cambria streets in the Fairhill neighborhood. Inside, they approached a group of men standing in the store.
According to authorities, two officers from the 24th district were patrolling in the area of Cambria and Mascher streets in Fairhill when they entered a corner store and confronted a group of males inside.
While the officers attempted to stop one of the men, later identified as Spencer, a scuffle ensued and Spencer shot one officer in the leg. That officer’s partner fired one shot back, hitting Spencer.
Both the injured officer and Spencer were taken to Temple University Hospital, where the officer remains in stable condition, and Spencer died.