PHILADELPHIA ERUPTS: 91 people arrested, 30 cops injured amidst violent unrest

Philadelphia experienced a wild night of violent unrest that left 91 people arrested and 30 officers injured early Tuesday. 

Hundreds of people took to the streets Monday to protest the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Walter Wallace Junior, calling it another example of police officers killing black men. 

Demonstrators marched to a city police station, where police officers were stationed behind metal barricades. 

But, the protests were anything but peaceful. 

Violence quickly erupted, as some protesters began throwing objects at officers – even setting at least one police vehicle on fire. 

Police struggled to contain the crowds, cop cars and dumpsters were set on fire, and thirty officers were injured after being struck by bricks and rocks, according to authorities

A 56-year-old sergeant was hospitalized with a broken leg and other injuries after she was “intentionally run over by an individual driving a pick-up truck” Fox News reports. 

At the Philadelphia BLM riot, a cop got hit or run over by a speeding vehicle. https://t.co/S12XuEoNAi

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 27, 2020

The shooting occurred in the late afternoon – before 4 p.m. – as officers responded to a report of a man wielding a weapon. Upon arrival in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, police were greeted by the man, later identified as Walter Wallace, holding a knife. 

Officers ordered Wallace to drop the knife, but he instead “advanced toward” them, at which point both officers fired their weapons. In a video that emerged shortly after the incident, officers are shown pointing their guns at Wallace as he walks closer; after telling him to put his knife down, they fired shots. 

In the aftermath, police said eight cruisers and one fire department vehicle were vandalized and several commercial properties were looted. 

Mass looting breaks out at clothing and shoe store during tonight’s BLM riot in Philadelphia. https://t.co/htXN1rsbCk

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 27, 2020

The looting, vandalism and violence were initially concentrated in West Phildalphia’s commercial corridors, but unrest was also reported in other parts of the city, including Center City and North Philly. 

And though the unrest settled at daybreak, the city anticipates additional protests and looting to follow throughout the day Tuesday. 

At least 91 people were arrested – mostly for burglary of commercial properties and 11 for assault on officers, according to NBC Philadelphia.