Now, we're learning more about the man accused of shooting the officers.
The suspect has been identified as 57-year-old Eric Franks.
Loved ones say Franks owns two businesses near the scene, is a retired firefighter of 19 years and a Marine veteran.
"He got a phone call from his son that a shooting had occurred. He is there to make sure everyone is ok," James Funt, an attorney for the Franks family, told Action News.
The incident unfolded shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of 54th and Arlington streets in the city's Wynnefield neighborhood.
Surveillance video shows the incident as officers were responding to reports of a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire.
Philadelphia officials provide update on three officers shot Saturday night
At the scene, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said officers encountered Franks at the scene and became involved in an altercation with them before shots were fired.
"Things, for whatever reason, escalated to where now a man is dead and three other officers were injured," Funt said. "So something happened. What that was? We're hoping to find out."
During the confrontation, police say officers were attempting to explain to Franks about establishing a crime scene in the area.
Police say Franks shoved a sergeant with both hands. Soon after, two officers attempted to detain Franks. As officers attempted to take him into custody, the situation escalated rapidly, according to police.
That's when police say Franks pulled out a gun, shooting three officers.
"I got hit. I got hit," one of the officers could be heard saying on police radio. "The officers shot need help."
One officer was shot in the face, another in the hip and a third in the leg.
A fourth uninjured officer and the three injured officers all returned fire.
Franks was shot in the chest and leg. He was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Family friends said Sunday that they have many questions, adding that this is uncharacteristic behavior from Franks.
"We're just shocked that has happened to him," said Jesse Keller of Overbrook. "The cameras do speak for itself, but I can't judge. I'm just shocked about the whole thing."
Investigators recovered nearly 50 pieces of ballistic evidence from the scene, along with a 9mm handgun that Franks was licensed to carry, police said.
Bethel said preliminary information indicates Franks was not connected to the original shooting that officers had been investigating.
The wounded officers include a 39-year-old male sergeant with eight years on the force, a 30-year-old male officer with seven years, and a 43-year-old male officer with one year on the force, police said. The fourth uninjured officer is said to be a 21-year-old man.
Bethel said over the weekend that the injured officers are "in great spirits" despite the circumstances.
The shooting remains under investigation.