Charges Filed In Shooting Of Philly Cop During Fight At High School

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities in Philadelphia have filed charges in connection with the shooting of a police officer at a high school Wednesday.

According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Dachan Seay, 30, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, firearm violations, and related crimes.

Seay is accused of shooting a 26-year-old Philadelphia Police Department rookie at about 2:42 p.m. Wednesday during a fight at Overbrook High School.

The officer, who has not been identified, was among several who responded to the fight.

The DA's office said during the incident, Seay showed up in an SUV and made his way into the crowd while armed with a handgun.

As officers worked to break up the fight, Seay tried to hide the firearm in his hoodie when the weapon fired, according to the DA's office.

The round ricocheted off a fire hydrant before striking an officer in the stomach. Seay tried to flee to the SUV but was quickly apprehended by police and taken into custody, authorities said. The Ruger handgun was recovered from the scene.

The officer underwent surgery at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.

"I am asking Philadelphia to pray for our officer right now — whatever your faith — and for all of his family as well," Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement.

Bethel strongly condemned the incident in a news conference.

“Fights at school have been happening since I was a kid,” he said. “But what I would never do is call an adult to my fight. And then when you are an adult, you’re a damn adult. You’re supposed to know better. You’re supposed to be the one who can come in there to deescalate. Not escalate."

Police did not fire any shots, and the fight was broken up after the officer was shot. Specific charges are forthcoming.

The DA's office requested Seay be detained on $5 million bail.