A police officer in Delaware County shot and killed a person early Thursday morning
An Aldan Borough police officer shot and killed someone early Thursday morning, according to the borough mayor.
A police officer in Delaware County shot and killed a man wielding a knife early Thursday morning, according to Aldan Borough Mayor Michael Ceci.
Ceci said the shooting by an Aldan Borough police officer happened about 3:30 a.m. near South Clifton and Aldan Avenues. Aldan Borough is a town of about 4,200 people located six miles west of Philadelphia.
The officer was responding to a 911 call, Ceci said. The officer first deployed a Taser, then shot the man, who was pronounced dead at Lankenau Medical Center.
The officer was taken to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital for “evaluation of minor injuries.”
“Per borough’s use-of-force policy, the officer is being reassigned to administrative duty, pending the completion of an investigation,” Ceci said.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office is investigating, Ceci said.
By late Thursday morning, there were few signs of the deadly encounter in the tree-lined residential neighborhood. News crews gathered at nearby Providence Park, within eyeshot of both the police station and the house where neighbors said the shooting happened.
Longtime resident Rich Cooper said he was up late working on home renovations when he saw a police car pull up next door.
Cooper said he heard what he believed to be two gunshots in quick succession. When he stepped outside, he said, he could smell the smoke from the bullets discharging.
Cooper said he did not hear any argument or shouting prior to the gunfire. “No yelling. They pulled up, and pop, pop.”
Within minutes, the corner was swarmed with at least 14 police cars, Cooper said.
Cooper said it was not the first time police had visited the house next to his.
“I don’t know what they’re doing over there,” Cooper said.
