Philadelphia officer dies after being shot in June; suspect will now be charged with murder
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia police officer who had been hospitalized since being shot during a traffic stop back in June has died, and now the charges against the suspect will be upgraded to murder.
Officer Jaime Roman, who served in the 25th District, passed away on Tuesday. Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Roman was surrounded by family and had "bravely fought" since the shooting.
During a Wednesday morning news conference, Bethel called this one of the most difficult moments he's had in 38 years of policing.
Bethel says he was there, in the hospital with Officer Roman's family, when he breathed his last.
"What I saw was a strong family. What I saw was an individual who was the nucleus of that family. What I saw was someone taken away way too soon," Bethel said.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said Wednesday that city flags would be flown at half-mast in Roman's honor.
"It's a day to remember the sacrifice of Ofc. Jaime Roman and the ultimate sacrifice he made for the city of Philadelphia," Parker said. "We will not allow his death to be in vain."
The suspect in this case, 36-year-old Ramon Rodriguez Vazquez, was charged with attempted murder after the shooting. He will now be charged with Ofc. Roman's murder, Bethel said Wednesday.
Officer Roman was shot around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 on the 3500 block of F Street.
He was one of two officers who pulled Vazquez over.
Police say Vazquez had no license and the car was not registered. Officers called a Parking Authority tow truck and allowed Vazquez and three friends, who arrived at the scene in another vehicle after the traffic stop, to retrieve items.
The officers then saw a holster and confronted Vazquez, who fled. As he ran he fired three times toward police, hitting Roman in the neck. His partner was able to return fire but Vazquez was not hit.
RELATED: Timeline released in Philadelphia police officer shooting, barricade and suspect's arrest
Vazquez kept running.
Police say he tried to carjack the driver of a minivan and then entered two homes, holding the second homeowner hostage.
SWAT officers surrounded the home and Vazquez was eventually taken into custody.
Sources tell Action News this is not the first time Vazquez fired at police.
Criminal records show Vazquez fired on officers in Puerto Rico after an alleged carjacking back in 2011.
