Philadelphia police shot a suspected armed robber early Sunday near the Frankford Transportation Center after he allegedly pointed his pistol at the officers.
Bernard Rayford, 23, of the 1800 block of Gillingham St., suffered wounds of the left arm, for which he received treatment at Temple University Hospital, and was released into police custody, said Lt. Raymond Evers, a Philadelphia police spokesman.
Rayford’s encounter with police began at about 3 a.m. when another man flagged down two 15th district patrol officers at Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street to report that he had been robbed at gunpoint. The victim said he knew the robber and identified him to police.
The officers soon spotted Rayford walking on Duffield Street and chased him on foot about two blocks to the 1600 block Granite St., Evers said. That’s when the suspect allegedly raised his weapon at the pursuing officers.
One officer fired a single shot at Rayford, while the other officer fired twice. They took the wounded suspect into custody and recovered a Kel Tec 9mm semiautomatic handgun at the scene.
Both officers were removed from street duty pending the outcome of a preliminary investigation by the district attorney’s office, Evers said.
Rayford was charged with robbery, assault on police and related offenses. He allegedly stole a small amount of cash in the robbery, Evers said. ••
