Philadelphia officer fired after shootout with 12-year-old as case remains under investigation

A Philadelphia officer who is under investigation in the wake of a 12-year-old was shot and killed after he allegedly opened fire at a group of officers will be fired from his post, said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.

"I have made the decision to utilize Commissioner’s Direct Action to suspend Officer #1 with the intent to dismiss the officer at the end of 30 days due to violations of our use of force directive," Outlaw said on Tuesday.

"I will tell you it’s difficult. It’s just a sickening and saddening situation all around," she added. 

The 12-year-old boy, Thomas Siderio, was killed in Philadelphia on March 1 after the police spotted him with a 17-year-old who was wanted for questioning. 

When the police approached the boys in an unmarked police car, a bullet hit the police car, shattering the car’s back passenger window and injuring an officer. This prompted the officers to open fire against the two boys. 

"The evidence collected thus far that it was Thomas Siderio who discharged the firearm into the police vehicle," Outlaw explained. 

Siderio tried to flee with the firearm on foot. Officer #1 chased him and shot him in the back, violating the Philadelphia Police Department’s use of force directive. 

"Based off of the evidence that I reviewed, it was clear that the use-of-force policy was violated," Outlaw added. 

Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s office is conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting. So far, no charges have been filed. 

"It's tragic that we have trigger-pullers as young as 12," said Outlaw. "And it's tragic that we had one of our own, again, go against everything who we say we are. There are no winners here."