Manhunt under way for officer's shooter; schools to dismiss on time
One of the largest manhunts in Philadelphia history, involving officers from "every single district in the city," is under way to find a gunman who shot an officer in the head at a Dunkin Donuts in East Oak Lane this morning. Charles Cassidy, a 54-year-old officer in the 35th District, is in extremely critical condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
One of the largest manhunts in Philadelphia history, involving officers from "every single district in the city," is under way to find a gunman who shot an officer in the head at a Dunkin Donuts in East Oak Lane this morning.
However, 54 Philadelphia schools and early learning centers in the area -- which had kept students inside on "lockdown" since 11 a.m. -- were planning to dismiss at regularly scheduled times, a school district spokesman said.
Charles Cassidy, a 54-year-old officer in the 35th District, remains in extremely critical condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
Cassidy unwittingly walked into a robbery in progress at the Dunkin Donuts on North Broad Street near 66th shortly after 10 a.m.
The suspect shot the officer once in the head and left his body next to a trash can before stealing his police-issued gun and fleeing the scene on foot, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said.
As the city reels over the third shooting of a police officer this week and the second in 12 hours, SWAT teams, uniformed officers, detectives and K-9 units are combing the city for the suspect, described as a 5'11" to 6' heavily-built black male with a spiderweb tatoo on his left hand. He was last seen carrying two guns and wearing tan khaki pants, a black hoodie and white-and-black striped boots.
Cassidy is married with three children - two in college and one in high school, according to Johnson.
The suspect is considered "extremely armed and dangerous" since he has "absolutely no regard for human life," Johnson said.
