Man killed by officer in Kensington was still in car, police say
On Monday afternoon around 12:30 p.m., a Philadelphia Police officer shot and killed a man after a traffic stop in Kensington. Authorities originally said the man — whom relatives identified as Eddie Irizarry, per 6ABC — had “lunged” at officers with a knife. Now the narrative has changed
In a release sent late last night, PPD said it appears the man was still in his car when an officer “discharge[d] his firearm multiple times into the vehicle” after a partner warned of a weapon inside.
Both officers on site were wearing body cams, so more information will eventually be forthcoming. There’s also a press conference later today.
1,244 chances to bid at Bankroll’s fire sale restaurant auction
From serving “billionaire bacon” to auctioning off toilet paper, it’s been a wild five months for Bankroll. The glitzy fine-dining sports bar that opened in Center City this March and permanently closed its doors in July, is auctioning off the entirety of its holdings — everything from liquor license to furniture to toilet paper.
Ali Mohsen details 10 of the most interesting items up for auction, which also provide a glimpse into the former establishment’s convoluted operations.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• The FBI arrested a West Philadelphia 17-year-old in an ongoing terrorism probe. Accused of communicating with an Al-Qaeda affiliated group and attempting to build a weapon of mass destruction, he’ll be prosecuted in Philly. [6ABC/DAO]
• Philadelphia once led the nation in sentencing children to life in prison. Now, more of those sentences have been reduced than any other jurisdiction. [NYT unlocked]
• 143 Philly-area outfits made this year’s Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fastest growing companies around the U.S. [Technically]
• For the first time in its 164-year history, the Philadelphia Zoo has named a woman as president and CEO. Jo-Elle Mogerman, formerly at Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, will be the zoo’s 15th leader. [WHYY]
• After 12 years as Opera Philadelphia’s executive director, David Devan is stepping down amid budget cuts. Under his tenure, the opera attracted a large under-35 audience and partnered with craft breweries on special beer releases. [WHYY/BP 2016/BP 2017]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
• A fatal shooting in West Philly is used as a case study for the way social media among teens may be helping fuel a rise in gun violence nationwide. Taunts that once could be forgotten now have an audience, increasing pressure to turn words into action. [ProPublica]
• For the first time on record, the firearm suicide rate for Black teens is higher than for white teens, according to preliminary data from the CDC. Philly’s gun violence epidemic may be a factor. [WHYY]
• Anti-violence nonprofit Philly Truce announced Operation Hug the Block, 77 nights of peace patrol vigils leading up to Election Day on blocks most impacted by violence. Sign up here. [PhillyTruce/YouTube/Google Docs]
• In addition to a decline in shootings, Philly is seeing other gun crime rates drop: aggravated assault with a gun is down 10% vs. last year, and robbery with a gun is down 12%. [Axios]By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 38: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 26 the week prior. [PCGVR]
- 1,129: Shooting victims this year so far, down 24% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
- 266: Year-to-date homicides, down 23% vs. last year’s pace; up 34% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins SEPTA officials at the ribbon cutting for Market Street’s latest red Bus-Only lane, which stretches between 15th and 20th streets (10:45 a.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🍹 Billy Penn event: This month’s BP Quizzo trivia night lands at annex. at the Divine Lorraine, in partnership with the North Broad Renaissance. We’ll have happy hour specials and prizes for the winners. Space is limited, so RSVP today. (6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24)
🦐 Taste some of summer’s final days of seafood at Bud & Marilyn’s Summer Seafood Night in Center City. Dinner starts at $35. (Wednesday, Aug. 16)
🛍️ Eakins Oval’s final Now+Then outdoor market for the season is this weekend, with dozens of artisans and makers of food and crafts on hand for early holiday shopping. Free. (5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19)
📖 Billy Penn is proud to headline the inaugural Philly Story Fest, joining journalists from media outlets around Philadelphia to tell the city’s best stories on stage at the Bok. Tickets are $25. (7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5)
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