Officer ambushed by gunman faces alleged attacker in court

CENTER CITY (WTXF) - A Philadelphia officer who was ambushed while in his patrol car in January faced his alleged attacked in a courtroom Thursday morning.

Officer Jesse Hartnett was in court recounting the night Edward Archer, 30, opened fire on him from close range, striking Hartnett in the left arm three times.

Archer, who has admitted to carrying out the shooting, has told investigators that he acted in the name of Islam. He is facing several charges including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Surveillance video from the night of the shooting allegedly shows Archer opening fire on Officer Hartnett with a stolen police firearm as the officer drove through an intersection.

Police Commissioner Richard Ross said back in January that Archer fired 11 shots from the stolen 9mm handgun at close range. That gun was reported stolen from the home of a police officer back October of 2013.

As Archer attempts to flee the scene, video shows a severely wounded Officer Hartnett stepping out of his vehicle and returning fire on the suspect, striking him in the lower body. Archer was taken into custody a short time later.

MORE: Ambush suspect tells police he acted in the name of Islam

Officer Hartnett, 33, was hospitalized for two weeks following the shooting. FOP President John McNesby tells FOX 29 Hartnett has had 7 surgeries on his injured arm so far and is scheduled to undergo an eighth procedure.

Investigators believe Archer traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and to Egypt in 2012, FBI special agent Eric Ruona said, and the purpose of that travel was being investigated by the FBI. But police said there was no indication anyone else was involved in the officer's ambush

Bail was denied pending a preliminary hearing January 25th.