New details are emerging about the police shooting of a 25-year-old Temple University graduate student on Wednesday evening on the 4900 block of Hazel Avenue.
Police said they were called to a home on the block to investigate a reported stabbing. Police said that the victim, identified by CBS Philly as Kaleb Belay, approached them with a “kitchen knife” and ignored warnings to drop it before one officer shot him several times.
Police found no stabbing victim.
Belay, who is from Ethiopia and has been in the country for about a year, is listed in critical condition at Penn Presbyterian Hospital with six gunshot wounds to the stomach, chest and hand.
“They’re giving inaccurate information,” said Saba Tedla, the owner of Booker’s Restaurant on Baltimore Avenue, where Belay started as a busser and is now a bookkeeper. “It’s misleading what’s out there.”
Tedla described Belay as “very quiet.”
People close to Belay say he was walking toward his home on Hazel when he was shot on the sidewalk. They say police later searched his room.
A police spokesman said late Wednesday that the 27-year-old officer who shot Belay has been removed from active duty pending an investigation. Police have not responded to requests for further information regarding the shooting.
March 8th, 2019 at 9:00 am
awaiting the bodycam footage of this one
March 8th, 2019 at 9:08 am
I heard there might be a way to donate to Belay, organized by Booker’s? Could you share that info if so?
March 8th, 2019 at 9:09 am
Is the vandalism on Baltimore ave between 48-50th streets connected to this? (“eff cops” plus broken windows on three newly build properties) It happened last night.
March 8th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
NEVER,NEVER walk to a cop with a knife. They will quickly upholster their guns and tell you to drop knife. You ignore them, they will shoot center mass at your chest. They do not know who you are and what your problems are, only that you have a knife and are waling toward them which makes you a threat to their safety.
IA will investigate, get testimony from the officer and any possible witnesses and make a decision. More likely clear the officer.
And the city will give the shooting victim a six figure settlement.
March 8th, 2019 at 1:40 pm
There’s a person shot by police in critical condition and some brave hero is working to solve the case of the broken windows
March 8th, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Ughhhh I’m not worried about the windows. I’m worried about tension and fear in my neighborhood. [edited]
March 8th, 2019 at 4:27 pm
Community Debrief and Discussion
March, 10, 2019
4400 Chestnut Street
3pm
March 8th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
If you weren’t aware, Black Bloc, aka suburban children who are still angry Dad didn’t say “I love you” enough so they take their rage out on honest people, had a little hissy fit last night on Baltimore. This included blocking traffic and vandalizing private property.