2023-09-28 05:01:00
Between 15 and 20 people were arrested in the American city of Philadelphia, belonging to the state of Pennsylvania, for participating in looting that broke out after peaceful protests against a judge’s decision not to press charges against a police officer who shot dead the driver of a vehicle.
The demonstrations occurred during the afternoon of Tuesday and at nightfall, groups of more than 100 people – mostly made up of young people – began looting stores in various parts of the city. In statements to local media, interim police chief John Sanford indicated that the looting was not linked to the demonstrations and that the looters had taken advantage of the occasion to engage in criminal behavior.
During the night, NBC channel 10 reported assaults and looting of businesses in Center City, as well as in the areas of Port Richmond and northeast and west Philadelphia, a city located about 220 kilometers from Washington DC. Some groups of teenagers, with their faces covered by masks, broke shop windows, filled plastic bags with clothes, sports shoes and accessories, and fled when the Police arrived.
Specifically regarding the court case that sparked the demonstrations prior to the looting, Judge Wendy Pew dismissed all charges, including one of murder, against police officer Mark Dial for the August 14 shooting death of driver Eddie Irizarry, an incident that It was recorded on video. After a preliminary hearing, the judge accepted the defense’s argument that Dial’s shooting was justified because he was reacting to a threat to his safety.
Initially, American police sources had said that Irizarry was outside his car and armed with a knife with which he had attacked the officers before they shot him. However, the video shows that the driver was inside the vehicle at all times.
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