Armed Man Shot, Killed By Philly Police
By Wyatt Earp | March 7, 2009
A textbook example of Suicide By Cop if you ask me.
PHILADELPHIA - Police were forced to shoot and kill an armed employee atop the Philadelphia Gas Works building Friday evening.
The employee, identified by colleagues as Juan Delgado, was shot and killed by a 26th Police District officer on the roof of the building in North Philadelphia.
Police said Delgado was threatening himself with a gun and pointed the weapon at police, forcing officers to shoot and kill him.
According to co-workers, Delgado was upset because he just found out Friday that he had cancer. He was apparently acting suicidal at work. Delgado, a chief dispatcher at PGW, has a brother and sister-in-law that work at the company. His brother was on the roof at the time of the shooting. (H/T - CBS3)
Damned shame.
Topics: The Job |
March 7th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
The guy who owned the bar where, as a very young teenager I could get two shots of rotgut whiskey and a draft for $1, blew himself away when he learned he had the Big C. He did it himself, though.
At the time, my father a former WWII navy pilot, said it took a lot of guts to do that. I was puzzled because I thought it sounded better than a painful, slow cancer death. But, now, I don’t think I could do it either. Suicide by cop sounds only slightly easier.
I think I’d have to hire an assassin and be surprised–never knowing what hit me.
As you said, damn shame.
March 7th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
The Officer who was forced to shoot this man is also a victim. He now has to live the rest of his life knowing he took a life. He will also, probably, second guess himself. “Did I really have to shoot this man? Was this man a true threat? Or, was he just looking for help? Would he have shot me if I didn’t shoot him?” These, among many others, are probably questions the Officer will ask himself for years. I hope he will find the right answers, and get through this tragic event.
Another not so obvious consequence of incidents like this… Will the Officer hesitate if faced with another similar situation? I hope not.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
WAGONSUX - sounds like you have thought about this problem as part of your job. Be safe out there.
March 8th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Terrible. Nothing I can say.
Go safely.
March 8th, 2009 at 6:44 am
It is a terrible reality of Police work.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am
cbullitt - He should have just offed himself instead of putting a police officer in that situation.
Wagonsux - Agreed. No winners in this incident.
Yochanan - It’s always in the back of our minds. No one ever wants to shoot someone, despite what idiots like Sharpton may say.
Alan B - Always.
Admiral - And sdaly, it is becoming all too common.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:23 am
The situation is so sad for everyone involved. I do feel most for the police officer who was forced into the situation of having to shoot him. Having to shoot a “real” bad guy is one thing, but this is something different and I know that police officers there did everything to try to make the outcome different.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Shoot first and ask questions later; a tried and true philosophy.
March 9th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
dats some bull..dha cops had a choice to kill my father. yes he was ma daddy..i have no respect to the cop who killed him..plus dis is not wat really happened it didnt take place in dha roof. it was in ma dads office. get yall story straight please
March 11th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Juan was an outstanding person, proud former Marine, great athlete. Haven’t seen him in a few years, but he left a lasting memory that I’ll never forget. Don’t know the details, but the result is a tragedy no matter how you look at it. The world lost a good and decent man. Stay Strong!