PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The attorney for the family of Eddie Jose Irizarry has released clear video of last week's fatal shooting in Fairhill — calling it a “crime against humanity.” On Aug. 14, five-year Philadelphia police veteran Mark Dial shot and killed the 27-year-old within seconds of pulling him over, surveillance video shows.
Call for accountability
Speaking to reporters Tuesday on behalf of the family, attorney Shaka Johnson said the city solicitor initially invited the family to view video from body cameras worn by police, but the District Attorney's Office rescinded that offer, citing the ongoing investigation.
Instead, the family obtained front door surveillance video from residents at the site of the shooting. The view from above shows Irizarry pull over and police officers approach his car.
WATCH THE VIDEO
The video released Tuesday shows two angles, both with direct lines of sight. Irizarry is seen pulling over in his gold Toyota Corolla and parking, facing the wrong way on Willard Street. Music is blaring.
"Look at the timing of it. Look at how long officers are on scene before Eddie is dead," Johnson said. “It will be a matter of seconds.”
A police SUV rolls up and stops on the passenger side. No flashing lights are seen; no siren is heard. Two officers get out of the front seat. Dial, coming from the passenger side, has his service weapon in hand before he passes across the front of the police vehicle.
He yells: “Show me your hands!” Then he fires.
Attorney details the shooting scene
Within six seconds of Dial getting out of the police car, he is heard firing six shots into the closed driver’s side window of Irizarry’s car.
“The officer didn’t even give Eddie time to follow his command,” Johnson said.
Dial is seen running backwards.
“He seems to scare himself, shooting, whilst running back to his car,” Johnson said.
The officers immediately call for help — and within about a minute and a half, they pull Irizarry’s limp body out of the car, one officer grasping both his hands, the other holding just one leg.
Authorities say the officers took Irizarry to the hospital where he died.
"And I believe I heard [Philadelphia Police spokeswoman, Cpl.] Jasmine Riley say officers gave commands to drop the knife whilst Eddie was outside of the vehicle, he did not do that, he in fact lunged at police officers and then was shot," Johnson said.
"We know that is a patent lie."
Family speaks out
It's not clear at this time where the seemingly incorrect narrative originated. Less than two days after the initial public statement from police, officials corrected themselves to say that Irizarry was seated in his car, and he never lunged at officers with a knife.
The video seems to confirm the corrected narrative.
There was a knife in the car, but Johnson said Irizarry used it in his work as a mechanic.
Speaking to reporters last week, police officials did not say why their initial reports were incorrect. They said only that body camera video revealed the accurate nature of the event.
Incorrect police report
Johnson also confirmed that Irizarry had a history of schizophrenia, and documented mental health issues run in his family. However, Johnson noted that Irizarry never had any sort of criminal record.
"This young man has never been arrested a day in his life," Johnson said. "He's never seen handcuffs, the inside of a jail cell, ever, in 27 years. Never had a negative encounter with police."
The family and Johnson believe Dial should be charged with a crime, though they declined to specify if that crime should be murder.
Two members of the District Attorney’s Office were at the press conference Tuesday, but they sat in the back and did not speak.
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Philadelphia police have not yet commented on the release of the surveillance video. According to Department policy, the police cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.
No one from the city has called the family, Johnson said. “I would expect someone in local government — you know, your local councilperson, somebody, to reach out to this family.”
Johnson said he wants to know why Commissioner Danielle Outlaw left the scene after a few minutes there, and why a public information officer relayed the initial incorrect account, standing in front of several top-level commanders.
Johnson was also the attorney for the family of Walter Wallace Jr., who was fatally shot by police in Cobbs Creek in October 2020. Wallace was having a mental health crisis, his family said at the time. Two responding officers fired 14 shots at the 27-year-old within a minute of arriving on the scene. During those tense seconds, Wallace appeared to be holding a knife at his side, and he ignored commands to drop the weapon.
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Irizarry’s family wants the next mayor of Philadelphia to revamp the Police Department, with a focus on training, Johnson said. He expects a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed against Dial and the city.
Irizarry’s family says he will be laid to rest on Thursday. The mayor and commissioner have announced a press conference for Wednesday at 1 p.m. at police headquarters.