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Philadelphia Police Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Suspect Chasing SEPTA Employee In Frankford, Officials Say

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Officials say a Philadelphia police officer shot and killed a knife-wielding suspect who was chasing a SEPTA employee in the Frankford section of the city on Friday afternoon. The officer-involved shooting happened on the 1500 block of Pratt Street, close to the Frankford Transportation Center.

frankford police-involved shooting
(credit: CBS3)

Police say the SEPTA employee flagged down a Philadelphia police officer, saying a shirtless man was chasing him with a knife.

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"The shirtless man was chasing him down the street," Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Sekou Kinebrew said.

Police say the officers observed the man with the knife and gave him repeated commands to drop the knife.

pratt street knife
Credit: CBS3

According to police, the suspect then lunged at the officers.

A 28-year-old officer then shot the suspect once in the abdomen. He was transported to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital and was pronounced dead at 5:47 p.m.

"Honestly, my stomach is in knots," witness Brittany Charles said.

Charles works nearby and says she saw the entire thing unfold as she was on a Facetime call with a friend.

"When I first seen it, I seen he was angry, he was enraged about something. He was walking up on the cops. The cops did have his gun pointed at him," Charles said.

She says she simply wishes the outcome was different.

"Somebody could have grabbed him and detained him or something," Charles said.

Authorities say the officer who shot the suspect is a seven-year veteran of the force. No officers or bystanders were injured.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

CBS3's Greg Argos contributed to this report.

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