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Protests Erupt in Philadelphia After Police Killing of a Black Man, Walter Wallace Jr.

HeadlineOct 27, 2020

In Philadelphia, hundreds of protesters took to the streets overnight Monday following the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old Black man whose family says was suffering a mental health crisis. A video of the shooting shows Wallace’s mother trying to restrain him, putting her body between her son and two police officers at the scene. Wallace then pushed his mother away and walked toward the officers, who shot Wallace at least 10 times. Police allege that Wallace refused to drop a knife he was holding. Video footage shows Wallace was at least 10 feet away from the police officers when they shot him. At least one witness told The Philadelphia Inquirer the officers were “too far from him,” and said bystanders were trying to deescalate the situation. Philadelphia’s district attorney has launched an investigation.

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