Philadelphia police shooting: Suspected gunman 'should not have been on the streets,' DA says

PHILADELPHIA — A gunman opened fire on police Wednesday as they were serving a drug warrant in a Philadelphia neighborhood, wounding six officers and triggering a standoff that extended into the evening, authorities said.

Police arrested Maurice Hill, 36, just after midnight.

Here are the latest updates:

Update 2:10 p.m. EDT Aug. 15: Authorities are holding a news conference Thursday afternoon to provide updates on the investigation into the hourslong standoff one day earlier that left six police officers injured.

Update 1 p.m. EDT Aug. 15: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters Thursday that Hill fired more than 100 rounds during an hourslong standoff one day earlier. Six police officers were injured before he surrendered, authorities said.

Krasner said Hill had yet to be charged Thursday afternoon, but that he will face "more than enough charges, so Mr. Maurice Hill may never exit jail."

Update 12:30 p.m. EDT Aug. 15: Authorities are holding a news conference Thursday to update the public on Wednesday's officer-involved shooting and standoff.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the suspected gunman, identified as Hill, "should not have been on the streets," but he added that authorities had no "crystal ball" to predict his behavior.

Krasner said Hill has an extensive criminal history, including having faced drug, gun and robbery charges.

Update 7:23 a.m. EDT Aug. 15: More information has been released about the man who is accused of shooting six police officers in Philadelphia Wednesday.

Police identified the man as 34-year-old Maurice Hill, WTXF reported.

After Hill surrendered he was taken to temple University Hospital where he was treated and released to police, WCAU reported.

Hill has a long criminal history with at least a dozen arrests since he turned 18. He was convicted in 2002 on charges including illegal possession of guns and aggravated assault, according to WTXF.

In 2013, he was convicted of perjury and sentenced to seven months' probation, WTXF reported.

The charges Hill faces after Wednesday's standoff and shooting have not been released.

However, his attorney, Shaka Johnson, told WCAU that his client will probably face six counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.

The standoff has spurred Philadelphia's mayor to speak out against gun violence in the country.

"It's aggravating. It's saddening," Mayor Jim Kenney said during a news conference according to WCAU. "It's just something we need to do something about. And if the state and federal government doesn't want to stand up to the NRA and some other folks, then let us police ourselves. But they preempt us on all kinds of gun control legislation."

Kenny added, "They (the police) don't deserve to be shot at by a guy for four hours with an unlimited supply of weapons and an unlimited supply of bullets. It's disgusting, and we've got to do something about it. And we need to do something about it quickly."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf had been scheduled to sign an executive order Thursday to reduce gun violence. But the signing has been postponed to a later, undetermined date, WCAU reported.

Update 12:18 a.m. EDT Aug. 15: The gunman is now in custody following a standoff that lasted for hours, Philadelphia police said. Video from the scene showed a suspect with his hands up.

Update 11 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: Police say all six officers wounded by gunfire from a man who has barricaded himself inside a north Philadelphia building have been released from the hospital.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross says "it's nothing short of a miracle that we don't have multiple officers killed today."

Update 9:45 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: Police say two officers who were in a building with a gunman barricaded inside a northern Philadelphia home have been "safely evacuated" by a police SWAT team.

Sgt. Eric Gripp said shortly after 9:30 p.m. that the suspect was “still armed and inside” the house.

There was no immediate word on how the officers were freed.

Update 9 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: Police say an hourslong standoff with a gunman barricaded inside a northern Philadelphia home is continuing into the night as the shooter ignores officers.

Commissioner Richard Ross said during a Wednesday night news conference the "very volatile" situation is still unfolding.

Ross said officers were serving a narcotics warrant at the home and had already entered when gunfire erupted. Ross said the gunman fired multiple rounds and officers returned fire. He said many "had to escape through windows and doors to get (away) from a barrage of bullets."

Two officers remained inside the home, but Ross says he believes they are OK.

Ross said officers have been calling the gunman and he has picked up but did not speak to them.

Update 8 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said that he believes the suspect is still alive because he is still firing in a press briefing Wednesday evening.

Update 7:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: Police are attempting to communicate with the suspect.

Original report: According to WTXF-TV, two police officers are barricaded in the home with the shooter.

Sgt. Eric Gripp tweeted that the suspect is still firing. He also said that all six officers who were shot are at area hospitals with non life threatening injuries.

Video shows a massive police presence in a neighborhood with dozens of police cars and officers, many of them with their guns drawn.

One police officer was injured in a crash while responding to the incident, according to WTXF-TV.

Gunshots are continuing to be heard late Wednesday afternoon.

It is unknown if the suspected shooter has been apprehended.

Please check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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