Bystanders taunted and laughed as police officers were being fired upon in Philadelphia
A reporter at the scene of an attack on police officers said that bystanders were mocking and taunting police even as bullets rained down upon them.
A video shows a crowd of residents shoving and confronting the police even as they were dealing with a tense hostage situation.
It was circulated online among many supporters of law enforcement who expressed outrage at their treatment.
Yelling, screaming, and throwing things at officers that have PROTECTED YOU for 4 hours during an active shooting? Classy. WTH is wrong with you? #Philadelphia #Philly #phillypd #philadephiapd #philadelphiapolice #phillyshooter #phillyshooting @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/rUBmb65O9x— Brooke (@BrookelynnML) August 15, 2019
Even as six police officers were being treated for injuries the attack by a man barricaded inside a home, the neighborhood residents expressed hostility and antagonism against the police.
Reporter Alexandria Hoff of CBS-3 Philadelphia reported that she had been harassed along with the officers.
I mentioned this at 10 and since I was harassed during that live shot, I’ll mention it here too. A major moment of disappointment this evening was watching a crowd of people taunt police officers, laughing and yelling at them in the midst of the gunfire. #PhiladelphiaShooting— Alexandria Hoff (@AlexandriaHoff) August 15, 2019
"I mentioned this at 10 and since I was harassed during that live shot, I'll mention it here too," Hoff tweeted.
"A major moment of disappointment this evening was watching a crowd of people taunt police officers, laughing and yelling at them in the midst of the gunfire," she added.
One officer was shot in the head, while another was shot in the hand. All injured officers have been released from the hospital.
There are reports that the suspect was broadcasting part of the attack on Facebook.
Two police officers were trapped inside the home as he fired on the officers outside, and they were saved by the SWAT team along with two other hostages.
