Black man killed by police in Philadelphia: clashes with police break out
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the scene of demonstrations and clashes with police, with dozens of officers injured, on Monday night after the death of a black man killed by law enforcement.
The outbreak of violence was triggered by the death of a 27-year-old man, identified as Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday afternoon in the West Philadelphia neighborhood, who was shot several times by two police officers when they did not appear to be in imminent danger, as shown in a video circulating on social networks.
The police were dispatched to the scene after a call reported a man with a knife. Mr. Wallace Jr. refused to drop his weapon despite the officers' injunctions, according to Philadelphia Police spokesman Eric Gripp.
According to his father, interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, the victim was suffering from psychological problems and was undergoing treatment. "Why didn't they use a taser," lamented Walter Wallace Sr. "His mother was trying to calm the situation down," he added.
A few hours after the events, some 300 demonstrators took to the streets to protest against police violence and racism, leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
Thirty police officers were injured, including several who were hospitalized, Philadelphia police reported to AFP.
Most of their injuries came from projectiles, including bricks, thrown by demonstrators, and a female police officer was hit by a vehicle, according to a police spokesman.
Businesses were vandalized, a police car was set on fire, and many individuals were arrested, according to authorities.
A wave of anti-racist protests, sometimes involving violence, has been sweeping the country since the filmed death of George Floyd, a black man in his forties who was killed by a white police officer in late May.
"I have seen the video of this tragic incident and it raises difficult questions that need to be answered," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
He announced that an investigation will be launched.
"We are monitoring the situation closely. We stand ready to deploy federal resources if necessary. President Trump will not tolerate violence against U.S. law enforcement," said Alyssa Farah, White House communications director.
Source : AFP
