Man pointing gun is slain by police

Philadelphia police shot and killed a 28-year-old man in Hunting Park on Friday night after he pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the officers during a traffic stop, police said.

The man, identified as Matthew Henderson, of the 4500 block of Cottman Avenue, had 11 prior arrests and was carrying a gun reported stolen in South Philadelphia this year, said Lt. Ray Evers, a police spokesman.

Evers gave the following account:

Just before 11:30 p.m., a 25th District police sergeant observed a BMW 750 sedan disregard a red light at Second Street and Erie Avenue.

The sergeant followed the car to the 4400 block of Hunting Park and pulled it over. Approaching the car, the sergeant smelled "a large amount of marijuana," then waited until two patrol officers arrived before approaching again, Evers said.

As the sergeant and the two officers approached, Henderson got out, brandishing a .40-caliber Taurus handgun, and pointed it at the officers.

The sergeant and one of the patrol officers fired, striking Henderson three to four times in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The gun recovered at his side had been reported as stolen in January to Third District police in South Philadelphia, police said.

Henderson's criminal history since 2001 included arrests for drugs, gun possession, assault, and drunken driving.

In 2003, he was sentenced to two years in prison for intimidating a witness. In 2004, he was sentenced to eight years on drug charges.

It was unclear from court records when he was released from prison. He was scheduled to be on probation until 2014.

Henderson's relatives could not be reached for comment.

As with all police involved in shootings, the officers will be on desk duty while Internal Affairs and the District Attorney's Office investigate, Evers said.