UPDATE: Aug. 15, 9 p.m.
Philadelphia police, in a statement released Tuesday night, said the evidence indicates 27-year-old Eddie Jose Irizarry was seated inside his car when he was shot and killed by a police officer on Monday.
Preliminary information at a Police Department press briefing on Monday indicated Irizarry was standing outside of the car at the time of the shooting.
According to the latest details, which the Department says are subject to change as the investigation continues, two officers approached Irizarry after he pulled over. The officer approaching from the passenger side told the officer approaching from the driver's side that Irizarry had a weapon. As Irizarry turned toward the driver's side window, the officer on that side fired his gun several times into the car, fatally wounding him.
Two knives were observed inside the car, according to the Department's public affairs office, and both officers were wearing cameras, which were activated at the time and captured the incident.
Philadelphia police say they will release more details on Wednesday. Stay with KYW Newsradio for the latest.
The original article follows:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 27-year-old man was shot and killed by a Philadelphia police officer on Monday during a traffic stop in the city’s Fairhill neighborhood. As authorities begin their investigation, the man’s family says he had documented mental health issues.
According to police on the scene, two 24th district officers saw 27-year-old Eddie Jose Irizarry driving a gold Toyota Corolla erratically near B Street and Erie Avenue.
“They attempted to stop the vehicle, at which time it took off southbound on the 3200 block of Lee Street. It then turned left, going the wrong way on Willard Street,” said Cpl. Jasmine Reilly, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department.
The officers followed Irizarry, trying to get him to pull over. Reilly said Irizarry eventually stopped the car.
“A male stepped out of that vehicle with a weapon, with a knife, and the officers gave multiple commands for him to drop the weapon. The male did not and lunged at the officers,” she said.
Police say that’s when one of the officers fired his gun several times, hitting Irizarry. That officer immediately took him to the hospital, where he died.
Irizarry’s family believes he may not have understood the officers’ commands.
“He doesn’t understand that much English at all,” said Irizarry’s aunt, Zoraida Garcia.
On top of that, she said, Irizarry was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“It’s all in the paperwork,” she said.
Garcia said her nephew, whom they called “Janito,” is from Puerto Rico and has been staying with his grandfather.
Related
“My nephew doesn’t carry a weapon,” Garcia said. He always carried a little pocket knife on him, she said, but she believes he was reaching for his wallet when he was shot.
She said the family wants answers, and they believe there’s a video that will show what happened.
In the meantime, the officer who shot Irizarry will be on desk duty until the investigation concludes.
The district attorney’s office and the Citizen’s Police Oversight Committee are investigating. It is not clear if the officers involved in the incident were wearing body cameras at the time.
Related
