PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The man convicted of shooting six Philadelphia police officers in an hours-long standoff in Nicetown-Tioga six years ago will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Judge Diana Anhalt sentenced Hill to 120 to 240 years in prison — 20 to 40 years for every police officer he shot at 15th and Erie Avenue on Aug. 14, 2019.
A jury found Hill guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault and related charges in May.
Nine officers were injured, six by gunfire, during the August 2019 shooting in the city’s Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood. Authorities said Hill fired more than 100 rounds at narcotics officers before surrendering.
During the sentencing, two of the wounded police officers spoke about their pain and trauma they endure each day. One who was shot in the head tearfully told the judge how he is still trying to figure out how to explain what happened to him to his children when they ask questions.
Hill never denied being the gunman. During the trial, he said he believed the people entering his home were intruders, and when he realized they were police, he said he was scared for his life. His attorney said he had a tough childhood — and Hill said he never intended to harm anyone.
His family called him a lovable, dedicated father, son and brother.
But in the end, Anhalt said she could not understand why anyone would have a half dozen fully loaded guns, plus additional drums and ammunition.
“You fired 133 shots from an AR-15, 6 of them hit police. 127 more were ready for anyone else," she said.
The judge also noted that any one of the children at the daycare across the street could have been hit by bullets, “but for the grace of God, they weren’t.”
Roosevelt Poplar, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5 said in a statement he was "thankful" for the outcome of Hill's sentencing.
"A sentence that will keep this individual locked up for life," Poplar said. "Make no mistake, our police officers ran toward danger back in 2019 to arrest a violent felon."
District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement that Hill's sentencing "concludes one of the worst moments in the history of criminal justice."
"Maurice Hill's relentless barrage of bullets terrified an entire community and nearly took the lives of multiple people, including police and neighborhood residents," said Krasner. "We are glad that justice was served in this case and that there was no loss of life.”