Who Is Walter Wallace Jr? Philly Protests Heat Up After Another Fatal Police Shooting

More protests erupted in West Philadelphia late Monday evening into Tuesday morning after an armed 27-year-old Black man was shot and killed by police.

The man, Walter Wallace Jr., was involved in an incident with police before 4 p.m. on Monday, with two officers responding to reports of a man with a knife, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Video footage of the incident was posted on social media, showing Wallace walking toward police wielding the knife. Officers backed away from Wallace as he got near. At one point, the video’s picture moves away from Wallace as multiple shots are fired.

Sgt. Eric Gripp told the Inquirer that the officers had ordered Wallace to drop the knife as he reportedly advanced towards them. Grip also said that video footage taken by the officers’ body cameras and was being reviewed by investigators.

Wallace suffered from mental illness, and his mother had called police for help, Wallace’s father, Walter Wallace Sr., told the Inquirer.

“Why didn’t they use a Taser?” Wallace Sr. said. “His mother was trying to defuse the situation.”

Wallace Sr. also told the news outlet that his son was on medication and appeared to have been shot 10 times.

Police Commission Danielle Outlaw released a statement that read, “While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted. I will be leaning on what the investigation gleans to answer the many unanswered questions that exist. I also plan to join the mayor in meeting with members of the community and members of Mr. Wallace’s family to hear their concerns as soon as it can be scheduled.”

The protests following the incident caused injuries to at least 30 police officers, with one officer being run over by a speeding truck and breaking her leg, WCAU, an NBC affiliate out of Philadelphia, reported. At least one police vehicle was set on fire and destroyed while six police vehicles were vandalized, the Inquirer said.