A 21-year-old man who allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer while being chased Thursday evening in North Philadelphia was shot and critically wounded by the officer, a police spokesman said.
Around 6 p.m., two Highway Patrol officers in a marked police car "observed a drug transaction between two males" at 29th and Huntingdon Streets, said Lt. Raymond Evers.
The officers got our of their car and began a foot pursuit that led them to the 2500 block of North Newkirk Street, Evers said.
"The male pulls a handgun and aims it at the officer," who then fired two shots, striking the man once in the torso, Evers said.
The wounded man was transported by a medic unit to Temple University Hospital, where he was reported in critical but stable condition.
The man was armed with a six-shot Smith & Wesson revolver, which the police recovered, and was carrying drugs, Evers said.
As with any incident when an officer fires his weapon, Internal Affairs is investigating and the officer is temporarily assigned to desk duty.
