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Philadelphia cops release footage of the moment knife-wielding Walter Wallace Jr. rushed at two cops during 'mental health episode' before being shot dead - sparking riots

  Philadelphia officials released body camera footage and 911 audio of the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr on Wednesday as they identifi...

 Philadelphia officials released body camera footage and 911 audio of the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr on Wednesday as they identified the two officers who opened fire in the shooting. 

Wallace, 27, was shot dead last week on October 26 when officers fired at him 14 times after he refused to drop a knife in his hand. 

His family said that Wallace had bipolar disorder and was going through a mental health crisis at the time of the confrontation.  

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw identified the officers involved as 25-year-old Sean Matarazzo, who has been with the department since 2018 and 26-year-old Thomas Munz, who has been with the department since 2017. Both are from the 18th District. 

The newly released footage shows officers first arrive to a home near 61st and Locust streets following 911 calls and Wallace emerge from the front door holding the knife saying 'What's good?'     


The newly released footage shows officers first arrive to a home near 61st and Locust streets following 911 calls and Wallace emerge from the front door holding the knife saying 'What's good?'

The newly released footage shows officers first arrive to a home near 61st and Locust streets following 911 calls and Wallace emerge from the front door holding the knife saying 'What's good?' 

In the footage Wallace walks towards officers with the knife in hand as the officers and people in the home he was in yell at him to drop the knife. A woman believed to be his mother runs after him to force him to back down

In the footage Wallace walks towards officers with the knife in hand as the officers and people in the home he was in yell at him to drop the knife. A woman believed to be his mother runs after him to force him to back down

Wallace is seen holding the knife in his right hand and the officer behind the bodycam is heard shouting three times as he backs up and draws his gun: 'Put the knife down now!'

The woman behind the door rushes out screaming 'Put the knife down now! He’s mental! He’s mental!'

Wallace walks down the front steps and walks calmly into the street still holding onto the knife.

Once in the street there is an officer seen on the road behind Wallace also with his gun drawn.

The officer behind the bodycam shouts 'Back up! Back up now!' as Wallace walks towards the officer behind him.

A slew of people rush out of the home Wallace emerged from screaming. Wallace's mother rushes into the street to pull him back. 


Wallace proceeds to walk around the street despite people running after him. After repeated demands to drop the knife, the officers open fire and shoot him several times. This is the moment when gunfire first rang out

Wallace proceeds to walk around the street despite people running after him. After repeated demands to drop the knife, the officers open fire and shoot him several times. This is the moment when gunfire first rang out

After shots rang out people who were in the home who knew Wallace run out and surround his body shouting and screaming in shock

After shots rang out people who were in the home who knew Wallace run out and surround his body shouting and screaming in shock

Wallace pictured on the ground after being shot with the knife above his body

Wallace pictured on the ground after being shot with the knife above his body

Wallace's mother starts to hit the officer behind the bodycam after the cops shot him wailing: 'You killed my son! You killed my son!'

Wallace's mother starts to hit the officer behind the bodycam after the cops shot him wailing: 'You killed my son! You killed my son!'

Wallace crosses the road and walks in front of homes on the other side for a few seconds, with two people he knows running behind him trying to pull him back. 

When he walks back into the street gunfire rings out and he falls to the ground. More than a dozen gunshots are heard.

Officers were heard saying 'put the knife down' at least 11 times before he was shot.

The officers fired at least seven rounds each and at least 14 shots total, though police haven't said how many times Wallace was struck. 

People are heard shrieking in shock in the background and Wallace's mother throws something at the officer's face. 

She hits the officer and shouts: 'You killed my son! You killed my son!'

Wallace is then seen laying on the ground with the knife over his head. 

The people who were in the home then rush out and surround Wallace and shout at the officers. 

One woman goes up to the officer and says: 'I just told you he was mental. And you killed him. I just told you.'

Bodycam footage from the second officer shows the moment one of the officers is heard saying 'shoot him' before they open fire. 

Second officer's bodycamera footage: Video from the second officer's bodycam shows the moment one officer says 'shoot him' before they open fire

Second officer's bodycamera footage: Video from the second officer's bodycam shows the moment one officer says 'shoot him' before they open fire

Wallace's friends and family pictured running up to his body after he fell to the ground following the hail of bullets. Wallace's distraught mother hit the officer closest to her and she shouted 'You killed my son!'

Wallace's friends and family pictured running up to his body after he fell to the ground following the hail of bullets. Wallace's distraught mother hit the officer closest to her and she shouted 'You killed my son!'

Other officers then arrive to the scene, grab the knife and call for help. 

Wallace was then transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he later died. 

Officials also released three 911 calls.

The first emergency call was made on Monday October 26 at 3.42pm where the 911 operator picked up but nobody replied.

In the second call, at the same time woman is heard saying 'there are people next door fighting.'

Also at 3.42pm another call comes in with a woman asking for police to come to the home saying 'my brother, they called the cops earlier and the cops is not doing nothing. He is over there hitting my mother and father.'

When the 911 operator asks if there are any weapons involved the sister says: 'No, but he on probation and everything. He got a case for being violent and everything. He got a whole record.'

'My dad said he's about to faint and my mother's blood pressure is all the way up...and they're over there screaming,' she added. 


Mayor Jim Kenney called the video footage graphic, violent and traumatic for viewers

Mayor Jim Kenney called the video footage graphic, violent and traumatic for viewers

As the press conference took place protests unfolded in downtown Philadelphia outside City Hall demanding the cops face justice

As the press conference took place protests unfolded in downtown Philadelphia outside City Hall demanding the cops face justice

At the press conference vWednesday officials said they were releasing the video to be transparent with the public, but warned it would be traumatic to watch.  

'We truly believe that this is an important step in our commitment to transparency,' Outlaw said during a Wednesday press conference.  

Mayor Jim Kenney called the video footage 'graphic' and 'violent'.

Officials say charges hinge on the video footage and on what the officers knew about Wallace’s mental state in responding to the 911 call made by his mother. 

This is the first time in the department's history that bodycam video of an officer-involved shooting has been released to the public. 

Only part of the video was released at the request of the Wallace family, District Attorney Larry Krasner said. 

'We have protected that family, we have done here exactly what they asked us to do, to be transparent but also to protect their privacy in a moment of tragedy that is devastating this family,' Krasner said. 

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said during the Wednesday press conference: 'We truly believe that this is an important step in our commitment to transparency.'

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said during the Wednesday press conference: 'We truly believe that this is an important step in our commitment to transparency.'

Only part of the video was released at the request of the Wallace family.  District Attorney Larry Krasner said: 'We have protected that family, we have done here exactly what they asked us to do, to be transparent but also to protect their privacy in a moment of tragedy that is devastating this family'

Only part of the video was released at the request of the Wallace family.  District Attorney Larry Krasner said: 'We have protected that family, we have done here exactly what they asked us to do, to be transparent but also to protect their privacy in a moment of tragedy that is devastating this family'

Black man holding knife fatally shot by two officers in Philly
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The footage shot on a witness's smartphone begins with Wallace walking between parked cars outside the front of some homes in the residential neighborhood. A woman, later identified as his mother, is following him trying to get hold of him as shouts ring the air
Two officers have their guns pointing at him as he heads in the direction away from them

Footage shot on a witness's smartphone shows the moment Wallace was fatally shot in West Philadelphia on October 26

The shooting was also filmed by a bystander on a cellphone and sparked outraged protests, looting, and attacks on police officers in the city, leading officials to enact a curfew.

Police CommissionerOutlaw met with the Wallace family Thursday to review the video.

The family’s attorney Shaka Johnson said in a press conference last week that the footage shows Wallace was incapacitated after the first shot was fired.

'I saw a person in obvious mental health crisis. My auditory senses heard people shouting, "He’s mental, he’s mental,"' Johnson said.

The attorney says the family is not calling for the cops that fired to be charged with murder.

'And here's why, here's why: they were improperly trained and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job,' Johnson said.

Walter Wallace Jr, 27, was killed by Philadelphia police officers on Monday. Family members say he was suffered a mental health episode at the time

Walter Wallace Jr, 27, was killed by Philadelphia police officers on Monday. Family members say he was suffered a mental health episode at the time 

After reviewing bodycam footage of the fatal incident, the Wallace family lawyer Shaka Johnson said during a press conference last week that it was clear the officers were ¿improperly trained¿ and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job'

After reviewing bodycam footage of the fatal incident, the Wallace family lawyer Shaka Johnson said during a press conference last week that it was clear the officers were ‘improperly trained’ and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job'

Family of Walter Wallace doesn't want officers charged with murder
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Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a joint statement Wednesday they are disclosing the footage 'in the best interest of our city and its residents.'

'Philadelphians are experiencing an immense amount of pain, and significant unrest persists throughout the entire city. The collective hope of our local government and the Wallace family is that releasing the recordings on November 4 will provide enough time to calm tensions and for the recordings to be released in the most constructive manner possible,' the statement said.  

Outlaw says the officers involved in the shooting were taken off street duty amid the investigation and their names have been withheld. 

The cops didn't have a Taser on hand at the time of the shooting. Outlaw said the department had previously asked the department for funding to equip officers with such devices.    

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