Officers justified in deadly police-involved shooting in Chester, D.A. says
CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Delaware County District Attorney has released the results of a preliminary investigation into Monday's deadly police-involved shooting in Chester.
D.A. Jack Whelan said so far, the investigation suggests that six officers who opened fire on a convicted felon after a chase were justified.
In a news conference Wednesday morning, Whelan confirmed most of the details of the incident that emerged in the hours following the confrontation, which ended in the death of Shalamar Longer and the wounding of his 23-year-old cousin, Asmar Longer.
The incident began at 2:13 a.m. Monday in Upland Borough, when an officer tried to stop a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 33-year-old Shalamar Longer of Chester for a burned out license plate light.
Instead of stopping, Whelan said, the Blazer took off, leading police on a chase through Upland Borough, onto I-95, then into Chester via the Highland Avenue exit.
It ended about 6-10 minutes later in the 1200 block of Keystone Road, Whelan said, when Shalamar jumped out of the SUV, pulled out a loaded gun and pointed it at police.
Six officers drew their weapons and fired about 100 rounds, killing him.
Asmar Longer, Whelan said, jumped out of the passenger side of the Blazer in an effort to avoid the confrontation with police.
He was hit in the ankle by a bullet and fainted at the scene.
He was taken to an area hospital and has not been charged.
Shalamar Longer had an extensive police record dating back to 1999, had been incarcerated several times, and was on parole at the time of the incident, Whelan said.
According to Whelan, Asmar Longer told police that during Monday's chase, Shalamar Longer vowed never to return to jail.
Action News spoke with the passenger, Asmar Longer.
He confirms his cousin vowed not to be returned to prison, but said he never saw him pull a gun on the cops.
Other relatives of Shalamar Longer are denouncing the DA's claim that the shooting was justified.
"He never got out of the car. I was there on scene when the last 10 shots were fired. He never got out of the car, so how and when did he brand a gun at them?" cousin Asmyra Trusty said.
"This is just wrong. Over 100 shots? That's impossible. That's just overkill," sister Jadah Longer said.
The district attorney says the investigation is not closed. He's still looking for other witnesses or possible surveillance video.
