(DailyDig.com) – In a tragic series of events, police had to make the difficult choice of shooting a young boy. Despite the fact the child had a gun at the time of his death, police are still calling it a tragedy. A life taken far too soon indeed.
Philadelphia police officers shot and killed 12-year-old Thomas Siderio after the pre-teen allegedly opened fire on them, striking their vehicle. The officers were in an unmarked car and plainclothes at the time of the incident.
Police officers in Philadelphia shot and killed a 12-year-old boy while he was reportedly wielding a firearm.https://t.co/cjj78xhjqx
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 3, 2022
Four officers claim they were in the area for a firearm investigation when they spotted two people on the corner, one of which they believed was wanted for questioning regarding their ongoing investigation. The officer driving flipped on the car’s lightbar and attempted to approach the pair when they heard gunshots, with a bullet striking and breaking the rear passenger window.
According to reports, only one officer sustained injuries, to the eye and face, from broken glass. Two officers fired back at Siderio, striking the young boy in his upper right back. The bullet exited through his chest, and he died later from his injury. Siderio still had the semi-automatic 9mm handgun at the time of his death, which officers determined to be stolen.
Police Deputy Commissioner Ben Naish noted the two officers involved in the shooting will be on administrative leave until the department’s Internal Affairs Division completes their investigation. Naish said the probe was in its early stages and authorities haven’t determined whether Siderio fired his weapon at police.
The other person with Siderio, an unidentified 17-year-old, was wanted for questioning pertaining to the firearm investigation. Police briefly detained the teen but later released him. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw noted that a young child intentionally fired their weapon at police, leading to the child’s death. He called it a miracle that no officers were shot.
Outlaw also asserted the life of yet another young person was lost, asking the community to question itself on how it failed Siderio and others like him. Despite the details, it’s still a tragedy to lose someone so young.
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