Two police officers in West Philadelphia shot numerous times and killed Walter Wallace Jr. yesterday. They allegedly received a report of a domestic disturbance and knife possession. Mr. Wallace suffered from mental illness and policemen attempted no form of deescalation at the scene. The department alleged that the officers did not have tazers on hand at the scene. Mr. Wallace’s neighbors can be seen on the video footage in the middle of the the road begging police officers not to shoot and that they know him, that he will put the knife down. 

The police union president defended the officers involved in the shooting, who have been taken off duty pending the investigation but have not yet been named publicly, saying they were being “vilified” for “doing their job and keeping the community safe.” Officials have declined to release the names of the officers. Demand that the names of the officers responsible be released to the public and that they held accountable. In publicly taking the life of Walter Wallace Jr. they forfeited their right to anonymity.