The mother of Aaron Rainey spoke with NBC10’s Yukare Nakayama about her son who was struggling with his mental health when he was shot by a Philadelphia police officer after he walked into traffic on Thursday.
A man was killed by police after he stole an officer's gun and shot one of the officers in the vest while he was being transported to the hospital in Northeast Philadelphia's Crescentville neighborhood, officials said.
The ordeal began Thursday, March 20, at 12:24 p.m. when police spotted a man running through traffic on the 5000 block of Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
The man, Bethel said, offered to voluntarily be taken to Friends Hospital after experiencing mental health issues.
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The officers placed the man in a police vehicle that then traveled to Friends Hospital. The man was not handcuffed at the time since he was voluntarily going to the hospital, according to Bethel.
The police vehicle arrived outside the hospital on the 4600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard around 12:50 p.m., investigators said. As the officers let the man out and began telling him where to go, the man became combative and attacked them, according to Bethel.
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The man -- who police have not yet identified -- was hit with a taser, but Bethel said he continued to fight with both officers as they all fell to the ground.
In a scramble, the man took one officer's gun and began to fire, shooting one of the officers at the very bottom edge of his bulletproof vest, according to Bethel.
The officer's partner opened fire, Bethel said, striking the man who stole the firearm several times.
Both officers and the man were taken to nearby hospitals. The officers were treated and later released while the man was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting, according to Bethel.
The officer who survived the shooting is 30-years-old and a six-year veteran of the Philadelphia police force, according to Bethel. His partner is 37-years-old and a 10-year veteran.
While speaking with the press outside Temple University Hospital, where the officers were treated, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said that the incident could have been much worse.
"The officer was wearing his ballistic vest when he was shot," Mayor Parker said. "Now all of our officers are required to wear their vest. And in this instance, the shot that hit the officer's vest was close to the bottom of his vest. But for an inch, we could be here right now with a very different set of circumstances and facts."
The shooting occurred a day after an incident in which police shot a man who they say was walking around with a rifle in South Philadelphia. That man was taken to the hospital and placed in critical condition.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President Roosevelt Poplar released a statement regarding the incident:
"Each and everyday our officers leave their homes and loved ones never knowing if they will return safely at the end of their shift. Thankfully, our officer’s tactical vest prevented serious injury or death.
Our injured officer and his partner represent the very best of the Philadelphia police department and we’re thankful for their bravery, integrity, and commitment to serve our great city with the utmost professionalism.
As we pray for a full recovery following this traumatic encounter, the FOP will continue to work with both officers, their families and colleagues in the 15th district. "
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