PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Police Department said the lives of officers involved in the recent deadly shooting of a boy in South Philadelphia may be in danger, and they are now under additional protection.
The Philadelphia Police Criminal Intelligence Unit said they have detected threats against the officers present during the officer-involved shooting of a boy on Tuesday.
Officers shot Thomas Siderio, 12, in the back. He later died. Police said Siderio was holding a stolen 9mm semi-automatic gun at the time.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a written statement "a young child with a gun in their hand purposely fired a weapon at our officers," but her deputy commissioner said in a press conference with reporters that he could not definitively determine whether Siderio opened fire.
"However, the life of a young man was cut tragically short, and we should all be questioning how we as a society have failed him and so many other young people like him," Outlaw said.
Due to public safety concerns involving the officers and their families, the names of the discharging officers will not be released until an investigation into these threats is completed.
