Cop Shot Last Week Was Hit By Other Officer's Gunfire: Philly Police

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Police said the officer who was hurt in a shooting last week was not shot by the now-dead suspect, but by his fellow officer.

According to police, the incident led to the shooting death of Aaron Rainey, 36, of Philadelphia.

Authorities said Rainey was able to obtain an officer's gun outside Friends Hospital on the 4600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard Thursday, March 20.

Rainey was picked up by police at about 12:25 p.m. that day on the 5000 block of Torresdale Avenue after he was seen walking in the middle of the road. When police and Rainey arrived at the hospital's back driveway, one office opened the transport wagon's rear doors and explained the process of self-committal to Rainey.

Police said Rainey became upset and agitated, then suddenly rushed toward the officer, knocking him to the ground. Rainey, the officer, and Officer Thomas Thompson got into a physical altercation, police said.

That's when Rainey tried to grab the first officer's taser, and then his firearm, according to authorities. Thompson used his taser on Rainey, which was ineffective, police said.

Rainey then got the first officer's gun, and both officers separated from Rainey, police said. Thompson fired at Rainey, striking him. Rainey then fired toward Thompson, missing him, police said.

At some point, the first officer was struck in his ballistic vest. An investigation into the shooting led police to believe it was Thompson who struck the other officer with his own fired round.

Rainey was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center and pronounced dead at 1:07 p.m. that day. Both officers were taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment and released.

The incident was captured on video by Friends Hospital, and the officer who was shot had his body-worn camera activated during the struggle, police said.

According to police, the officer who was hit by gunfire is a 30-year-old, 5-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department who is assigned to the 15th Police District. He suffered minor injuries related to the impact of a projectile striking his vest and did not suffer any penetrating injuries.

Thompson, 37, is a 9-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, assigned to the 15th Police District. He was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation, an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation, and an independent investigation conducted by the District Attorney's Office.