Khalil Lawal, 31

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 29, 2018

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

Police say Khalil Lawal, 31 was shot and killed after he allegedly intentionally struck a pedestrian with his car and then attacked an off-duty officer who confronted him.

Kawal, of Arlington, Virginia, was driving a black Honda Civic south on Broad near Marconi Plaza around 7:30 a.m. He then made a left onto Bigler Street and struck a man who was exiting his parked car. Investigators say it appears Lawal did this intentionally.

Police say Lawal continued driving east on Bigler before making a U-turn and returning toward the intersection of Broad and Bigler near Marconi Plaza. As he approached the intersection, a Good Samaritan used his truck to block his path, according to investigators. The Good Samaritan told Lawal he had struck a pedestrian. Lawal then allegedly chased the Good Samaritan on foot before walking back to his Honda. 

As Lawal walked back to his vehicle, an off-duty detective who witnessed the incident approached him and identified himself as an officer, police said. Police say the detective told Lawal to get on the ground. They also say they obtained surveillance video showing the detective drawing his department-issued weapon and Lawal, who was around 6-foot tall and weighed around 250 pounds, charging at him.

"They got into a violent struggle where the male struck the detective several times," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

Police say several shots were fired during the struggle as Lawal tried to disarm the officer.

"All we heard was pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. A lot of shots," a witness told NBC10. "And people running and scurrying around. It was really scary. There was even a baby seat in the car so that was scary too." 

Lawal, who police don't believe was armed, was shot in the torso, legs and face during the scuffle. He was taken to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m.