Philadelphia police shooting: Officer struck in bulletproof vest after gunfire in North Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Philadelphia police SWAT officer was hit in the bulletproof vest after a shooting on Friday afternoon in North Philadelphia.

Police say SWAT was in the 100 block of West Lehigh Avenue to serve a search warrant around 12:40 p.m.

Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the officers were going up the stairs of a building there. As they approached a third-floor unit at least two shots were fired by the suspect, Outlaw said.

The officer was struck in the chest. However, the bullet did not penetrate the officer’s vest.

The suspect fled through a rear window while still holding a gun, Outlaw said, and dropped to a second-floor roof.

However, he encountered SWAT officers acting as rear containment.

One of those SWAT officers fired, Outlaw said, but the suspect – who was still allegedly holding a weapon – was not hit.

He was taken into custody and a gun has been recovered.

That suspect had a warrant for narcotics distribution, Outlaw said, and this is now the scene of a HAZMAT situation since the suspect was known to manufacture drugs.

The officer who was struck was taken to Temple University Hospital to be checked out. He has since been released.

Stay with Action News and 6abc.com as this story develops.