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Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel gives remarks after officer released from hospital
The Philadelphia police community is rallying together to support an officer who was released from the hospital Thursday after he was shot in the line of duty outside Overbrook High School earlier in May.
PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia police officer who was shot while trying to break up a fight near Overbook High School over two weeks ago has been released from the hospital.
The unnamed officer was a little over a year on the job when he was hit in the stomach by a ricocheted bullet during a scrap on the 1900 block of North 59th Street.
Dachan Seay, 30, was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with a number of crimes, including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.
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Man charged after Philly officer shot near Overbrook High School
30-year-old Dachan Seay was arraigned Thursday on several serious charges including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer after a Philly rookie cop was shot near Overbrook High School Wednesday afternoon.
What's New:
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Officer shot outside Overbrook High School released from hospital
A rookie Philly police officer has been released from the hospital after being shot outside Overbrook High School.
A Philadelphia police officer who was shot in the stomach while breaking up a fight near Overbrook High School was released from the hospital on Thursday.
Investigators say the officer, who has not been publicly identified, was hit in the stomach underneath his bulletproof vest, inflicting critical injuries.
What they're saying:
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel described the emotional scene as the officer left the hospital.
"When you have nurses on the floor applauding as you walk out, come through the ER and they're applauding him, and then to be received by your men and women here who are applauding and letting you know you are loved and you're valued and you're cared about, it's an emotional moment. He's got a long way to come back, and we're gonna hold him and carry him through this process, and he'll do well," said Bethel.
The backstory:
It was around dismissal time on May 7 when authorities said numerous fights broke out on the 1900 block of North 59th Street near Overbrook High School.
During the fights, investigators say 30-year-old Dachan Seay arrived armed with a Ruger 57 semiautomatic pistol and fired the weapon into the ground.
The bullet ricocheted off the ground and struck the officer in the stomach underneath his bullet-proof vest.
The officer was rushed to a Penn Presbyterian Hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery.
"He suffered a significant wound, but through the amazing work of our doctors and nurses at Penn, he is on a road to recovery," said Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
Seay was arrested at the scene of the shooting and has been charged with several crimes, including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.
What's next:
Dachan Seay is due in court for a preliminary hearing next Tuesday.