Eddie Irizarry was shot and killed by police after a brief car chase in Philadelphia. Authorities said the 27-year-old was wielding a knife and lunged at an officer after exiting his car. According to a recent news conference, body camera footage finds that Irizarry was still in his car when the officer shot him.
"I understand and want to acknowledge the hurt and confusion that family and community members can experience when details of investigations change, and especially when they change in a very public way," Danielle M. Outlaw, the Philadelphia police commissioner, said. "I also understand that the information I'm about to provide will raise additional questions."
Though police didn't name Irizarry as the individual killed, his family identified the man as a quiet and withdrawn man who was being treated for serious mental illness. He had only been living in Philadelphia for seven years after moving from Puerto Rico and didn't understand English.
Peter Marrero, a detective investigating the shooting, did say that two knives were found in the car, including a "kitchen-style knife" and "serrated folding knife." His sister, Maria Irizarry, said that Eddie carried a pocket knife as a tool but not as a weapon.
The police internal affairs unit is investigating the shooting to determine whether the officers followed department policy while the district attorney's office determines whether a crime had been committed.
We'll be following this case as more details come out.
Source: New York Times
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