Former Philadelphia officer granted immediate parole in deadly 2023 shooting of Eddie Irizarry

Former Philly officer granted immediate parole in deadly 2023 shooting of Eddie Irizarry

Mark Dial, a former Philly police officer convicted in the 2023 traffic stop shooting of Eddie Irizarry, was granted immediate parole.

PHILADELPHIA - Mark Dial, a former Philadelphia police officer convicted in the deadly 2023 traffic stop shooting of Eddie Irizarry, was granted immediate parole on Thursday.

Dial was found guilty in May of voluntary manslaughter, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment.

Krasner on Mark Dial sentencing

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner spoke after former Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial was given immediate probation after he was convicted of the 2023 traffic stop shooting death of Eddie Irizarry.

The backstory:

According to police body cam video, less than 10 seconds transpired between the time Dial and his partner stepped out of their vehicle and when the fatal shots were fired in August 2023.

Initial information provided by police claimed that Irizarry had gotten out of his vehicle with a knife and lunged at officers, ignoring commands to drop the weapon. By the following evening, the department changed their account of the shooting, stating that Irizarry was actually seated inside the vehicle when he was shot.

Body cam footage shown in court in day 3 of Mark Dial trial

In day three of an emotionally charged trial, Mark Dial, the 29-year-old ex-Philly cop, on trial for the murder of Eddie Irizarry, took the stand Wednesday in his own defense.

Attorneys claim the body cam footage shows that Irizarry never raised his knife, and even tried to put it away.

Irizarry's family, their representatives and community leaders have repeatedly criticized the police department and city's response to the deadly shooting.

Shaka Johnson represents the Irizarry family in a wrongful death claim against the police officers. Johnson said, "Three inches of the knife is protruding, silver, from the top of his index finger. The windows are up, music is playing, and the car is parked. I’m not sure how we got here."

What they're saying:

Standing alongside Irizarry's family members, District Attorney Larry Krasner rebuked Dial's punishment. 

"The sentence that was handed down today is not one with which I agree," Krasner said. 

Krasner claimed that the standard sentencing for the crimes which Dial was convicted of is a minimum 3.5 years in prison. 

"I mean no disrespect to the court, and I say this sincerely: I am deeply disappointed with this outcome," said Krasner, who called the punishment "way below" the sentencing guidelines.

Still, Krasner solemnly celebrated Dial's conviction, which he believed would not have been brought to trial in previous administrations. He pointed out that the conviction prevents Dial from ever being a police officer again and disqualifies him from owning a gun.

Dial attorneys speak:

Brian McMonagle stated, "You know, this is a really good, decent human being that today truly got justice."

Another attorney, Fortunato Perri, said, "He saw it for what it was, that Mark mistakenly believed that Mr. Irizarry had a gun. His partner yelled gun and Mark reacted, feared for his life."

McMonagle added, "He’ll be going home and putting the pieces together of a life that was really shattered for a while and we have no doubt he’ll continue to give back to his community in years to come.

Irizarry family speaks out:

It’s heartache all over again for the family of Irizarry, after the judge’s decision.

Ana Cintron, Eddie’s aunt, expressed outrage, saying, "My nephew’s life didn’t matter at all. He literally took his life. There was more than enough evidence. Six seconds for crying out loud and he gets to go home again!"

Another aunt, Zoraida Garcia, was also upset, "Right now, he’s walking off with his family. We need to go to a cemetery."

She continued, "He was a cop so he gets the okay, but that’s where they messed up at because you’re telling everybody okay go ahead and get shot and the cops going to walk off!"

While chants of "Say his name! Eddie Irizarry! Say his name! Eddie Irizarry!" filled the air, his family said the system may have failed him, but his loved ones never will. Cintron added, "Loud and proud Eddie Irizarry was never ever guilty of anything and we’re going to continue to say his name."