North Philadelphia car stop leaves officer, man injured

A police officer was hospitalized Tuesday night after being wounded by gunfire, apparently a ricochet from his partner's shotgun, during a North Philadelphia car stop, police said.

Jose Roman, 44, a SWAT officer with 19 years on the force, was in stable condition at Hahnemann University Hospital. A man who police say pointed a gun at officers was also shot and badly wounded.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross spoke to reporters outside the hospital late Tuesday night. He gave this account:

About 9:50 p.m., SWAT officers, including Roman, were on patrol in North Philadelphia when a woman flagged them down and said one of three men in a white Chevrolet Impala had pointed a gun at her.

The officers spotted a white Impala at a gas station at Broad and Parrish Streets. Three men were in and around the car. As the officers approached the men and ordered them to raise their hands, one pulled a gun. Roman's partner fired his shotgun in response.

"His partner discharged, as he should have," Ross said.

Officials say they believe that a ricochet from the shotgun blast struck Roman's bulletproof vest, on his lower left side. The force was enough that "the wind was knocked out of him," Ross said.

The man who pulled the gun on the officers was taken to Temple University Hospital in extremely critical condition, Ross said. He was believed to be about 21 years old. The other two men were in police custody Tuesday night.

Police recovered two guns, one of which apparently was the one that had been pointed at the officers.

A massive police contingent shut down the eastbound lanes of Vine Street in front of the hospital.

Roman's wife was with him at Hahnemann, officials said. The couple has two children.

Four city officers have been killed this year, all while off duty.

Officer Moses Walker Jr. was shot to death early Aug. 18 during a robbery in North Philadelphia. Officer Brian Lorenzo was killed July 8 by an alleged drunken driver while driving home from work. Officer Marc Brady was fatally injured July 15 when struck by a car while riding his bicycle. Officer Milan Merke died June 14, six days after his motorcycle crashed into a car that had turned suddenly in front of him. He had been on his way to an antiviolence rally.