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Officer, toddler shot in West Philly
Noah Cohen
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
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A toddler and a Philadelphia Police officer are among the latest victims of gun violence in West Philadelphia after two daylight shootings Sept. 24.
A 21-year-old Philadelphia Police officer was shot in the face after stopping a car near 51 and Market Street shortly after 9 a.m. The officer, who was assigned to the station covering Drexel's campus, chased the suspect after being shot and was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania by fellow officers.
Officer Richard Decoatsworth pulled over a vehicle on Farson Street, between 51 and 52 Streets, when a man jumped from the car and started firing at the officer, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said at a news conference.
Johnson said that the officer stopped a car with three males inside and "when he [the officer] got out of the car he was immediately shot in the face"
Police took a 20-year-old male into custody in connection with the shooting of officer Decoatsworth; however, that suspect has not been formally charged pending an investigation, according to police officer Tanya Little.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sept. 26 that Antonio Coulter has told police he chose to shoot Decoatsworth rather than face a gun charge.
Coulter is facing charges of attempted murder, weapons possession, and resisting arrest according to court records.
Initial witness and media reports pointed to three young men in school uniforms being in the car with Coulter.
Police later discovered that the young men were University City High School students who had taken a ride from Coulter and were not being charged, according to police.
Hours later and less than ten blocks away police responded to a separate shooting at Tustice playground at 60 and Columbia Streets.
An 18-month-old boy and 30-year-old male were found shot at the scene.
The 18-month-old was shot in the right elbow and the right foot and was taken to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania by police.
A 21-year-old Philadelphia Police officer was shot in the face after stopping a car near 51 and Market Street shortly after 9 a.m. The officer, who was assigned to the station covering Drexel's campus, chased the suspect after being shot and was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania by fellow officers.
Officer Richard Decoatsworth pulled over a vehicle on Farson Street, between 51 and 52 Streets, when a man jumped from the car and started firing at the officer, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said at a news conference.
Johnson said that the officer stopped a car with three males inside and "when he [the officer] got out of the car he was immediately shot in the face"
Police took a 20-year-old male into custody in connection with the shooting of officer Decoatsworth; however, that suspect has not been formally charged pending an investigation, according to police officer Tanya Little.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sept. 26 that Antonio Coulter has told police he chose to shoot Decoatsworth rather than face a gun charge.
Coulter is facing charges of attempted murder, weapons possession, and resisting arrest according to court records.
Initial witness and media reports pointed to three young men in school uniforms being in the car with Coulter.
Police later discovered that the young men were University City High School students who had taken a ride from Coulter and were not being charged, according to police.
Hours later and less than ten blocks away police responded to a separate shooting at Tustice playground at 60 and Columbia Streets.
An 18-month-old boy and 30-year-old male were found shot at the scene.
The 18-month-old was shot in the right elbow and the right foot and was taken to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania by police.
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