An off-duty 18th District officer shot a man to death after the suspect pulled a gun on him Saturday evening, police said.
Darren Gardner, 42, of the 2100 block of Manton Street, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania a half-hour after the 5 p.m. shooting on the 1900 block of South Bouvier Street, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
A 27-year-old woman who police believe was an innocent bystander on the block was wounded. The victim, from the 2000 block of Bouvier, suffered three gunshot wounds to her left side and was taken to HUP in stable condition, the inspector said.
The officer had been visiting his aunt on the block when the suspect showed up and began causing a disturbance, said Colarulo.
The aunt had filed a protection order against Gardner, the inspector added.
When the officer walked outside to ask the suspect to leave, Gardner allegedly aimed a silver handgun at him and the officer fired three rounds, striking Gardner in his chest, Colarulo said.
As with all police shootings, the officer who discharged his weapon has been reassigned to administrative duty pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation.
Shot by masked man
A male wearing a yellow ski mask gunned down a 30-year-old man on Saturday afternoon, police said.
The gunman approached the victim around 4:15 p.m. on the 2300 block of Dickinson Street and fired four rounds into his legs, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
Police found the victim unconscious and a neighbor took him to HUP, the inspector added.
Detectives recovered four spent casings at the scene.
To report information, call South Detective Division at 215-686-3013.
Man wounded in struggle
A 24-year-old man was shot in his foot as he tried to fight off three assailants Saturday night, police said.
The victim was walking on the 1900 block of South Beechwood Street around 8:10 p.m. when three men exited a blue Crown Victoria and approached him, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
After one of the males whipped out a silver handgun, the victim put up a struggle and was shot in his right foot, police said.
The shooter fired two more rounds that missed the victim, the inspector said.
The victim was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in good condition.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Teen fares rob cabby
Two teens mugged a female cab driver of $150 after she dropped them off Christmas Eve on the 1400 block of South Lambert Street, police said.
The 56-year-old victim picked up her fares, both males about 16-17, around 10 p.m. Friday at Broad and Tasker, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
Once inside the taxi, one of the teens demanded money at gunpoint, said the inspector said.
The victim was unharmed and the duo fled with the cash.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Man pistol-whipped
An earlier dispute between three acquaintances spurred a Christmas Eve pistol-whipping shortly before 10 p.m., police said.
The 28-year-old victim told investigators that two males approached him on the 700 block of Watkins Street and began striking him in his face and head with a gun, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
The victim required stitches to his head.
Detectives are in the process of obtaining arrest warrants for the suspects, the inspector said.
Cousins mugged at gunpoint
Two males exited a car on the 700 block of Cantrell Street with guns blazing and robbed two cousins — issuing their demands in Spanish, police said.
One of the perpetrators wielded a semiautomatic pistol and the other a revolver in Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. robbery, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
After relieving the 30-year-old and 32-year-old victims of $180, the pair got back into their car and drove north on Sixth Street.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Arrest in burka holdups
Police made one arrest and questioned three others in the media-dubbed "burka bandit" robberies. However, they don’t believe any of the four were responsible for a string of bank holdups committed by thieves wearing Muslim garb, said Bill Danks, Deputy Chief of Detectives at the University of Pennsylvania.
One of the bank heists happened Dec. 20 at United Savings Bank, 1501 Packer Ave.
Four suspects were arrested after a Dec. 23 early-morning raid on a home near 40th and Market streets, Danks said. Inside the home, investigators recovered Muslim garb and a gun.
Police would not elaborate on what other evidence they confiscated.
The university’s police department conducted the raid in conjunction with Philadelphia police after more than 20 businesses and four banks citywide became victims of burka-wearing robbers. Several of the establishments targeted were close to the university.
Angelika Jones, 19, was charged in connection with two of the robberies that occurred near Penn.
Another suspect, 19, was not charged as of earlier this week but is being held on a parole violation, police said.
Two other men were questioned as a result of the raid but not charged.
Trial proceeds in cross-burning
The two men accused of burning a cross into the parking lot behind an interracial couple’s home on the 2800 block of Ernst Street were ordered to stand trial at a preliminary hearing Dec. 17.
John Dixon, 44, of the victims’ block, and Albert Martin, 34, of the 2500 block of South 29th Street, were charged with arson, ethnic intimidation and related offenses in the Labor Day incident, said the District Attorney’s Office.
Detectives cracked the cross-burning case, which made national news, based on information provided by neighbors.
The defendants will be arraigned Jan. 7.
Hold your fire
District Attorney Lynne Abraham and the Philadelphia Police Department have issued a zero-tolerance policy for firing guns on New Year’s Eve.
Additional patrols will be on the streets Dec. 31 and in the early hours of Jan. 1, said Fourth District Community Relations Officer Charlie Sarkioglu.
To ensure public safety, police will aggressively look out for residents who choose to celebrate the holiday by shooting firearms. Those individuals will be arrested and prosecuted.
Anyone who witnesses the misuse of a firearm at any time should call 911.
