An off-duty officer was involved in a shooting that happened in Northeast Philadelphia late Thursday that left a man dead, police said.
According to police, the incident happened at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, near the intersection of Willits Road and Holme Avenue where officers were called to assist an officer and a report of a shooting.
Officials said the incident happened as 54-year-old Robert Jones approached Detective Christopher Sweeney's car. Sweeney was off duty at the time.
Prior to the shooting, Detective Sweeney, a 43-year-old detective assigned to the city's Homicide Unit and a 14-year veteran of the force, and Jones had pulled their vehicles to the side of the road.
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Jones exited his vehicle and approached Detective Sweeney's vehicle on foot. At that time, Sweeney, who was seated in the driver's seat of his personal vehicle, produced and fired his personally owned firearm multiple times striking Jones.
Jones was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident is being investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department's Officer Involved Shooting Unit, Internal Affairs and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, officials said.
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In a statement, officials said that investigators are still working to determine "the circumstances surrounding the shooting."
Sweeney has been placed on administrative status pending the results of this investigation, officials said.
This is a developing news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
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