The Police Shooting of Walter Wallace & The Protests in Philadelphia, Explained

Date Published: October 27, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Happened?
• What’s the Response Been?
• What Else Should I Know?
• What Can I Do?

What Happened?

On Monday, police fatally shot Walter Wallace, Jr., a 27-year-old Black man, in front of his home as his mother attempted to protect him.

Police were responding to a report of a man with a knife, and witnesses saw Wallace standing on his front porch holding a knife. They reported that his mother chased after him and tried to shield him when police arrived on the scene.

The two responding officers asked Wallace to drop the knife, and they proceeded to fire 14 shots into his chest and shoulder when he didn’t. Wallace was standing several feet away from the officers when they fatally shot him, and video of the shooting went viral on social media.

Walter Wallace, Sr. told reporters that his son struggled with mental health issues and was on medication. “Why didn’t they use a taser?” he said to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “His mother was trying to diffuse the situation...Why do you have to gun him down?” (At a press conference Tuesday, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that neither officer had a taser because of departmental funding issues.)

In a statement to reporters, the family’s attorney said that Wallace’s family was seeking an ambulance to respond to his “mental health crisis.” Wallace is survived by his wife, who is pregnant and scheduled to be induced in the coming days.

What’s the Response Been?

Monday night, protestors gathered at a police station at 55th and Pine Streets, where they were met by officers in riot gear. They chanted Wallace’s name and reaffirmed that his life mattered. Social media videos show peaceful marches followed by a caravan of vehicles, as well as footage of police brutalizing protesters later that evening. Businesses across the city also reported instances of looting and vandalism following the demonstrations.

The community continues to question the officers’ excessive use of force, wondering why they didn’t fire a warning shot, aim for a non-lethal area of Wallace’s body, or use an alternative tactic to disarm or deescalate the situation.

Police say 91 arrests were made at the protests Monday night, and that 30 officers were injured -- all of whom have been released from the hospital except for one.

Philadelphia’s mayor and police commissioner have pledged a full investigation into the shooting, and the mayor is meeting with Wallace’s family to hear their concerns personally. City council member Jamie Gauthier is calling for the immediate release of the officers’ body cam footage, though the police commissioner has said that its release is pending the investigation. Philadelphia’s district attorney is also looking into the events of the shooting.

What Else Should I Know?

Here are just a few things to remember as you read developing news about this shooting and other instances of fatal police violence:

• Deadly use of force is never the only option in confrontations with police. De-escalation tactics and non-lethal alternatives exist, including area containment, summoning reinforcements, and waiting out the subject. Police departments with more restrictive use-of-force policies actually report lower rates of police-involved killings and police deaths and injuries in the line of duty.
• We must improve police responses to mental illness. Here’s why. Since 2015, nearly a quarter of those killed by police in the US had a known mental illness. These systems should exist to protect communities (particularly those most vulnerable among us) -- not cause further harm.
• A person does not need to be unarmed or innocent of any wrongdoing in order to leave a police confrontation with their life. We shouldn’t find justification for extrajudicial killings at the hands of officers who determine a person’s worth in the span of minutes. White suspects (even ones who have committed violent crimes) are often peacefully detained, and are less likely to be killed by police overall than Black suspects -- sometimes even after committing atrocities.
• The people who experienced and are impacted by these events deserve dignity, and casually sharing videos of these violent, life-shattering moments dehumanizes them and exacerbates racial trauma for many.

What Can I Do?

• Stop sharing the video of Wallace’s death. Instead read and share these four things to consider before sharing images of police brutality.
• Support your mental health. Read and share Shine’s BIPOC Mental Health Guide, TeenVogue’s guide for coping with tragedy in the news, and these 44 other mental health resources for Black Americans. For immediate, 24/7 support, text DS to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line.
• Disrupt racism. Use our step-by-step guides to start a conversation with friends and family about how to actively be anti-racist and disrupt racism in your communities. You’ll also receive advocacy actions that can make an impact to protect Black lives.
• Make your voice heard at the polls. Your vote can impact racial justice on the local, state, and federal level -- so be prepared to cast your ballot on or before Election Day. (Philadelphia currently has the highest number of registered voters in 35 years -- more than 90% of eligible residents have signed up to cast a ballot. If you’re a Philly voter, pay attention to the measure on your ballot proposing an overhaul to the city’s Police Advisory Commission.)