Temple College police officer fatally shot whereas responding to a criminal offense close to campus

A Temple College police officer was fatally shot whereas responding to a criminal offense close to campus Saturday evening, officers mentioned.

The college’s vice chairman of public security, Jennifer Griffin, mentioned this was the primary line-of-duty dying within the historical past of the division, in keeping with NBC Philadelphia.

The capturing was reported a number of blocks west of the North Philadelphia campus after 7 p.m., in keeping with a Temple College assertion.

The college mentioned the officer was shot whereas making an attempt to apprehend an individual suspected within the theft of a comfort retailer. The capturing occurred a number of blocks from the shop, in keeping with the assertion.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw advised reporters the officer was shot when he tried to intervene in a carjacking.

The officer was taken to Temple College Hospital, the place he died, she mentioned.

The officer’s id was being withheld “out of respect for the officer’s family and friends,” Temple College President Jason Wingard mentioned in a statement. He mentioned the shooter fled the realm.

“There are merely no phrases that may make sense of this tragedy,” Wingard mentioned. “It tears at our sense of neighborhood and security.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro tweeted that he and first girl Lori Shapiro had been “devastated” for the household of the officer who was killed whereas “bravely serving his neighborhood.”

“Might his reminiscence be a blessing,” Shapiro mentioned.

This text was initially revealed on NBCNews.com