The mother of a 16-year-old who was shot says nothing her son did warranted the consequences. He was shot during a gunfight on Tuesday, June 29, in Chester Delaware County. Another man was killed, a third suspect hurt and a Chester police and housing officer was shot in the arm. The officer could be released from the hospital on Wednesday.
A Chester police and housing officer could go home from the hospital Wednesday -- a day after he was shot in the arm during a gunfight that killed one suspect and injured two others Tuesday afternoon.
The shooting happened inside a building on the 300 block of Rose Street around 4:15 p.m. in what started as police responding to a robbery report. The officer was shot as a man tried to escape from a second-floor window. When other officers went inside the building, they were confronted by three men pointing guns at them, according to detectives.
Prosecutors say the officers fired, killing one of the men and injuring the two others -- one of the wounded is a 16-year-old.
"I'm not saying he's not at fault or anything, I don't even know the circumstances, but nothing he could do could condone what just took place," said Tamika Benson, the teen's mother.
Later in the evening, the body of another man was found behind the building. Police think he may have also been involved in the alleged robbery.
The names of the suspects were not made public and the officer's family asked that his name not be released.
"I'm upset there' been another death in my town," said Chester Mayor Wendell Butler.
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The town of Chester is under a state of emergency right now due to the recent violence. Four people were killed over an eight-day period earlier this month -- including a two-year-old. People in five high-crime neighborhoods are not allowed on the streets from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. without a legitimate reason and you can't have a group of three or more people together without a permit.
During the state of emergency, police officers have been working shifts of 12 hours or more.
The area where this shooting happened doesn't appear to be included in state of emergency areas.
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