Cop shoots gun-wielding carjacking suspect

A gun-toting carjacker was wounded yesterday after a confrontation with a Philadelphia police officer.

The suspect, who is in custody but had still not been identified as of last night, carjacked a man on Hunting Park Avenue near Clearfield Street in Strawberry Mansion at about 12:30 p.m., said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.

The victim then flagged down a Highway Patrol officer who happened to be passing by on his motorcycle.

The officer spotted the late '90s white Buick LeSabre and gave chase until the carjacker crashed into a Ford Explorer at 33rd Street and Lehigh Avenue.

Within seconds, the suspect jumped out of the Buick and pulled out a fully loaded Tec 9 semiautomatic handgun.

"The officer fired and struck him in the abdomen and arm," Vanore said.

The suspect was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was positively identified by the carjacking victim. The Tec 9 was confiscated at 33rd and Lehigh.

Vanore said that the officer, whose name was not released, will be placed on desk duty pending an Internal Affairs investigation.

Local residents nervously looked on yesterday afternoon while crime-scene investigators carefully combed through the shooting scene.

"I heard two gunshots, but I wasn't going to dare come out here when I didn't know where they were coming from," said one neighbor who asked that her name not be used.

"It's crazy, though - this is a generally peaceful block. I've only been here a year and I don't think I've ever seen this many cops all gathered like this." *