PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An alleged knife-wielding man, who Philadelphia police tased three times before ultimately shooting him last week, has been charged.
On Dec. 9, authorities say Officer Gerald Murphy and another officer responded to a call about a man with a knife at a house along Rorer Street, near Wyoming and Whitaker avenues.
There, they encountered 50-year-old Jose Cerda holding a 10-inch knife, according to authorities. Officials say he kept advancing toward the officers, ignoring more than a dozen commands to drop the weapon.
They say the other officer tased Cerda but it had no effect on him, and he continued to walk toward them. Murphy was not armed with a Taser.
Two other officers eventually arrived and again, Cerda was tased, but it had no effect. The officers continued to order Cerda to drop the knife.
Murphy ran backward, as Cerda, they say, continued toward them. Cerda was tased a third time to no avail. Murphy shot three times, striking Cerda once in the chest.
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Cerda is now charged with assault of law enforcement, simple assault and related offenses. He remains in critical condition at Temple University Hospital.
The shooting remains under investigation.