3 Philadelphia – Three Philadelphia police officers were wounded late Saturday night in the Wynnefield neighborhood, when officers responding to reports of a vehicle being struck by gunfire confronted a 57-year-old man identified as Eric Franks. Franks was killed after an exch
Late Saturday night in Philadelphia’s Wynnefield neighborhood, the call came in just after 10:30 p.m.—reports of a vehicle struck by gunfire. Minutes later, officers arrived at the intersection of 54th and Arlington streets, where the situation quickly changed course.
The Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said officers encountered a 57-year-old man at the scene. That man was identified by loved ones as Eric Franks. The confrontation escalated into an altercation with officers. and Bethel said officers ordered Franks to comply with commands. but he refused.
Surveillance video from city street cameras shows Franks confronting several officers. The footage appears to show him getting in the officers’ faces and shoving one officer before being pushed away from the group and into the street.
Then, authorities say, Franks pulled a firearm. A gun battle followed.
Three officers were struck during the shooting. Investigators said one officer was shot in the face, another in the hip, and a third in the leg. All three were taken to a hospital and were stable as of Sunday morning.
Police said the wounded officers include a sergeant with eight years on the force, a second officer with eight years, and a third officer with two years.
Investigators recovered nearly 50 pieces of ballistic evidence from the scene.
Franks was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m.
For loved ones and friends. the death carried a different weight—one tied to who Franks was in their everyday world and how out of character this moment seemed to them. Loved ones said Franks owned two businesses nearby the scene. Family friends said Sunday that they have many questions. and that this was uncharacteristic behavior from Franks. who is a retired firefighter of 19 years and a marine veteran.
Jesse Keller of Overbrook, speaking Sunday, said, “We’re just shocked that has happened to him. The cameras do speak for itself, but I can’t judge. I’m just shocked about the whole thing.”
Bethel said preliminary information indicates Franks was not connected to the original shooting that officers had been investigating.
“Three officers, because of their training, because of their understanding of the situation – totally caught up by a surprise that the man was armed – were able to return fire and protect themselves, and they will survive,” Bethel said outside the hospital.
He added that the officers were “in great spirits” despite what they had just lived through. “We are fortunate today,” Bethel said. “We come to this hospital too many times.”
As Philadelphia tries to piece together how a response to a gunfire report turned into a deadly encounter, the shooting remains under investigation.
Philadelphia police Wynnefield shooting Eric Franks Kevin Bethel Jefferson Hospital 54th and Arlington police officers wounded ballistic evidence