911 Calls, Body Camera Footage Of Fatal Police Shooting Of Walter Wallace Jr. To Be Released Nov. 4
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The City of Philadelphia says it will release the body camera footage and 911 calls of the fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr., but not right away. The bodycam footage of Monday's shooting that was widely expected to be released Thursday, is now expected to be released Wednesday, Nov. 4.
The Wallace family is on board with it.
There has been civil unrest in the city since Monday, the day Wallace Jr. was shot and killed by police.
In a joint statement today, Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, District Attorney Larry Krasner and the Wallace family acknowledged the pain Philadelphians are feeling and say they hope by releasing the recordings next Wednesday, there will be enough time to calm tensions.
"The Wallace Family, the Mayor, District Attorney, and Police Commissioner have all agreed that releasing the body camera footage and 911 audio on Wednesday, November 4, by the close of business is in the best interest of our city and its residents. Philadelphians are experiencing an immense amount of pain, and significant unrest persists throughout the entire city," the statement reads.
However, the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police is pushing for Krasner to release the bodycam and 911 recordings to the public, saying officers followed police department training and protocol.
"The officers were justified in their use of force under very difficult and stressful conditions, an armed man confronting them with a knife. For nearly 50 seconds, officers retreated and ordered the male to drop his knife more than 20 times," FOP President John McNesby said in a statement.
They believe once the district attorney's office releases the tapes, the city can begin the process of healing.
Those who have seen them say there are uncomfortable parts to see and hear before the shooting takes place.
"When I hear the officer say certain things that I think are very troubling, and I think even Mr. Krasner a couple of days before the family got a chance to watch the video, is on record as saying he saw the video and he was troubled with what he saw," Wallace family attorney Shaka Johnson said.
As we wait another five days, Outlaw says bodycam footage can answer or leave more questions.
"It can answer a lot of unanswered questions or get ahead of the narrative that's out there where there's misinformation involved, and then I've also seen it go completely the opposite of that," Outlaw said.
There are a lot of moving parts here. At first, the Wallace family questioned the DA's decision, but they are now on board with releasing it next Wednesday, which is a day after the election and only days before the funeral.
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