Two Philadelphia state legislators who represent parts of Delaware County are combining forces with a Philadelphia City Council member in staging an emergency community meeting Thursday night in the aftermath of last Thursday night’s shooting of a Philadelphia police officer by a man who allegedly claimed he did it “in the name of Islam”.
Both the suspected shooter and the victim have lived in Delaware County.
The meeting, that is set for 6 to 7 p.m. in the Bryant School at 6001 Cedar Ave. in West Philadelphia — one full city block from where the shooting occurred – is being co-hosted by state Sen. Anthony H. Williams, D-8, who represents nine eastern Delaware County municipalities, state Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-191, who represents Yeadon and Darby, and Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.
“The purpose of the meeting is so people can get to know to the extent possible, what the facts are, and to know they are going to be safe in their community,” said Williams on Tuesday afternoon.
Among the topics on the agenda are updates from law enforcement officials, mental health issues and neighborhood safety. Opening prayers from faith leaders are also expected to be part of the program.
“We do have several mosques and several communities of American Muslims in our district. They have all been invited,” noted Marlene Henkin, director of operations for Williams’ office.
In an incident that was captured on a surveillance camera about 11:40 p.m. Jan. 7, a man in a white robe ambushed a police cruiser at 60th and Spruce streets and fired 13 shots at Police Officer Jesse Hartnett, then fled. Despite being suffering serious arm wounds, the 33-year-old officer, who formerly served on the East Lansdowne police force, managed to exit his police car and return fire, striking the suspect in the buttocks.
The suspect, who was later identified as 30-year-old Edward Archer of Yeadon, was apprehended by other officers about a block away. After he was treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Archer was released into the custody of police who said he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, a terrorist group also known as ISIS, and said he shot the officer because police enforce laws contrary to Islam.
“Some people are concerned and some people are in fear that ISIS, which is an international terrorist organization, is appearing in any form in our community,” said Williams on Tuesday afternoon.
The weapon found at the scene is a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol that had been stolen from a Philadelphia police officer’s home in October 2013. Archer was charged with attempted murder and related offenses Saturday and is being held without bail until his Jan. 25 preliminary hearing. Hartnett, who was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, faces multiple surgeries for a broken arm and nerve damage, among other injuries.
City and federal law enforcement officials are investigating a tip reportedly received over the weekend from a woman who said Archer is a part of a radical group that consists of three others and “is not the most radical of the four” and that “the threat to police is not over.”
New Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney has cautioned the public against associating the police officer’s shooting with any teachings of Islam. Members of the Upper Darby Islamic Center that is 1.1 miles from the shooting scene said last week that they are not familiar with the suspect and noted that the Quran, the central text of Islam, does not justify shooting or killing.