PHILADELPHIA — Police are in a standoff with a gunman who shot six officers on Wednesday in a North Philadelphia neighborhood.
The officers’ injuries were non-life threatening, Sgt. Eric Gripp said on Twitter. He also said other officers were being treated for non-gunshot injuries.
Officers were swarming the neighborhood hours after the first shots were fired. Just around 6:30 p.m. ET more gunfire could be heard at the scene.
“Suspect is still firing. … Continue to avoid area,” Gripp said in a tweet.
Philadelphia police were first called to the scene for drug activity, Capt. Sekou Kinebrew told CNN affiliate KYW.
Video from a news helicopter showed more than 50 police vehicles at the scene.
The video also showed police officers kneeling and crouching behind various cars with guns drawn.
Gripp, a spokesman for the department’s public affairs office, also asked media helicopters to “pull back.”
Temple University put its Health Sciences Center, about 2 miles from the standoff, on lockdown, school spokesman Ray Betzner said.
“Seek shelter. Secure doors. Be silent. Be still. Police are responding,” the university said on Twitter.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting, deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said.
