PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Former Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial turned himself in Friday morning to face murder charges in the shooting death of Eddie Irizarry.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office released 22 minutes of body-worn camera footage of the shooting. READ THE LATEST HERE.
Dial surrendered around 8 a.m. Friday. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office later announced he is charged with murder. His attorneys believe the charge is unfair and recommend voluntary manslaughter.
Dial's lawyers said in a statement: "We intend to vigorously defend him against the charges. Despite what has been portrayed to the media, the facts will unmistakably show that Officer Mark Dial was legally justified in discharging his weapon while fearing for his life."
In a rare move, however, Dial's bail was set at $500,000. Bail for murder charges in Pennsylvania is unheard of.
District Attorney Larry Krasner held a press conference later Friday morning, where he and other officials released the body-worn camera footage of the shooting to the public.
Investigators say Irizarry was shot in his car by Dial on Aug. 14. Police originally said he lunged at officers with a knife but then changed that story to say he never got out of his car.
Irizarry’s family soon released neighborhood surveillance footage that shows a police SUV pulling up to Irizarry’s car and an officer firing his gun within five seconds of getting out. The body cam videos corroborate the series of events.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced on Aug. 23 that Dial had been suspended and would be fired.
In a statement released Friday, Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby said Dial has the "full support" of the police union.
"Our attorneys continue to gather all the facts surrounding this tragic incident," he said. "We ask the public to reserve judgment until all the evidence is presented during trial."
