PHILADELPHIA - A viewing was held Wednesday night for a 12-year-old boy who investigators say was shot and killed by a Philadelphia police officer after their car was fired on.
Family and loved ones of Thomas Siderio gathered at Lighthouse Baptist Church on South Broad Street to mourn his death that happened a week ago in South Philadelphia.Investigators say four plain-clothed officers assigned to the South Task Force were in the area in an unmarked car as part of an ongoing investigation.Authorities have said the officers saw Siderio and a 17-year-old boy on the corner of 18th and Barbara and recognized one of them as someone wanted for questioning in another investigation.Police say the officers were approaching the boys and activated their emergency lights when they heard gunfire and a bullet shattered the rear passenger window and came to a stop in the passenger headrest.
An officer in the back seat suffered injuries from the shattered glass to his face and eyes. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says the shot is believed to have been fired by Siderio.RELATED COVERAGE:"The evidence collected thus far that it was Thomas Siderio who discharged the firearm into the police vehicle," Outlaw said Tuesday.Police say two officers then got out of the vehicle and discharged their firearms once each.
One of those officers then took cover as the other officer – identified by investigations as Officer #1 - continued to chase Siderio on foot.