Thomas Siderio Philadelphia Cop Killer shot but not named

A Philadelphia policeman, who shot dead a 12-year-old boy while he was running away in a riot last week will be fired. But the identity of the police officer will be kept private – at least for now.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw on Tuesday said the officer would be suspended with intent to terminate his contract related to the March 1 incident in which police said Siderio was armed. The officer would be terminated after 30 days for violating the department’s use of force directive, the commissioner explained, though Outlaw would not specify exactly how the officer in question did so. any.

Meanwhile, the family of the slain child directly challenges the police about his death.

Conor Corcoran, an attorney representing the Siderio family, told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that “TJ Siderio did not own a gun” at the time he was killed.

“Shooting that officer is the least this Police Department can do, especially where, like here, young TJ doesn’t have any gunpowder residue on his hands,” said the home director. funeral,” added the lawyer.

While authorities did not name the officers present at the time of the shooting, Philadelphia Inquirer—quote police records—The procession identified them as Edsaul Mendoza, Kwaku Sarpong, Robert Cucinelli, and Alexander Camacho. The same four officers are being pursued by the Siderio family for lawsuits: So far, an attorney for Siderio’s father has filed a summons, informing the four officers that they face a potential lawsuit. .

For its part, Outlaw declined to name the officer who fired the fatal shot Tuesday, citing their personal safety and the ongoing investigation.

“Clearly the use of force policy was violated,” said Outlaw, noting that she was “sure” the terminated officer was the one who shot and killed Siderio. “It’s tragic that we’ve had one of our own that goes against everything we say we are.”

Authorities say the incident happened around 7:20 p.m., when four plainclothes officers saw two people — Siderio and a 17-year-old man — standing at the corner of 18th and Barbara streets. When the police turned on the emergency lights, the police claimed they heard gunfire that broke their back window. Outlaw said on Tuesday that preliminary evidence led police to believe 12-year-old Siderio fired a bullet into the car, shattering the glass and injuring one of the officers.

Two of the officers got out of the car and started shooting at Siderio, who police believe was holding a semi-automatic pistol with a laser beam. Siderio was starting to flee when an officer fired his weapon at least twice, striking Siderio once in the upper right with a bullet through his chest, police said.

Siderio was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:29 pm. A spokesman for the Philadelphia school district earlier told The Daily Beast Siderio is in seventh grade at George W. Sharswood Elementary School.

The District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday that it was investigating Sideiro’s death for possible criminal charges, but noted that it was a “complicated and disturbing factual case.” deep trouble.

“The people of Philadelphia receive a comprehensive and transparent account of all the activities surrounding the circumstances of young Thomas Siderio’s death and an impartial and thorough investigation,” District Attorney Larry Krasner added in declare. “When we do so as is appropriate, we will disclose the findings of our currently active investigation and decide whether to pursue any criminal charges.”

Kim Tomasetti, the mother of a 17-year-old boy who lived with Siderio and was briefly detained during the March 1 incident, told Questioner that her son’s account was very different from the one outlined by the police. According to teenager Tomasetti, the officers did not turn on the flashing lights or identify themselves before firing.

Outlaw said on Tuesday that evidence showed at least one light was on before a shot was fired at the unmarked vehicle — though she declined to provide further details.

In addition, police said they recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene that they believe Siderio was carrying at the time. Police sources previously told Questioner that Investigators are looking into whether the teen threw a gun before the police fired the shot that killed him.

Outlaw declined to comment on the specifics of Siderio’s gun on Tuesday.

For Corcoran, however, “the invisible speculation about TJ’s weapons possession – especially from Philly PD – is just the latest example of their interest in keeping their tracks hidden.”

“They have much, much more to do,” he added.