PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A North Philadelphia man was sentenced Friday for wounding a police officer while he was serving a narcotics warrant in January.
Through a Mandarin translator, 26-year-old Libao Zheng told the court he didn't know it was the police who were breaking into his home the morning of Jan. 31. He said he fired his gun out of fear — an instinct to protect his family.
Prosecutors said after a 2 ½ month investigation, the Narcotics Field Unit served a warrant to Zheng's home near 12th and Master streets. They said police used a battering ram to gain entry to the house, and that's when they say Zheng fired once.
An assistant district attorney said the bullet ricocheted off one of the police officer's bulletproof vests and struck the officer in his hand.
Zheng was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, drug and related offenses. He faces four to 10 years in prison, with time served.
Six other people were arrested and charged with drug offenses.