Philadelphia has imposed a curfew amid rioting after police shot and killed 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday afternoon in 6100 on Locust Street in Cobb Creek.
A video posted on Twitter shows Wallace walks out into the street as two officers retreat with pistols pointed at him. Shouts of «put down the knife» are heard just before a series of shots is fired and Wallace falls to the ground.
The Philadelphia police said that Wallace was armed with a knife, did not comply with the order to drop his weapon and “headed towards” the officers.
#BlackLivesMatter: Walter Wallace Jr., 27, a twin, father, and son, was shot 10 times by police in front of his mom who was trying to deescalate the situation in Philly. These officers must be held accountable and this unjust system must be radically transformed. pic.twitter.com/o6zS0RZVRt
— COMMON (@common) October 27, 2020
The man's family says Wallace had mental health problems and was on medication. His mother, Catherine Wallace, said she was trying to defuse the situation and begged the officers not to shoot.
A few hours after Wallace's death, protests began, which escalated into riots and robberies. Philadelphia Governor Tom Wolfe called in the National Guard. A curfew was imposed on Wednesday evening.
See scenes from the second night of protests in Philadelphia after Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old Black man, was killed by police.
Read our coverage: https://t.co/TvLQNifWqg pic.twitter.com/63B03ttJ37
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 28, 2020
On the same day, Philadelphia police found a van filled with explosives at Logan Circle in downtown. They removed propane cylinders, torches and possible dynamite bombs from it, reports WPVI.
The incident is currently being investigated. It is not known if any arrests were made.
